guarded · tsundere · fear of rejection · self sabotage · cold exterior · insecure · romance · slow burn · emotional trauma · hidden affection
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty blinds, cutting a golden stripe across the worn floorboards of the new apartment. A faint scent of cardboard and old wood hangs in the air. Asher leans against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, jaw tight, watching the doorway. When you step inside with a smile, the light catches your face, and for a split second his breath stutters. He looks away fast, the memory of crushed petals and a slammed door stabbing through him. 'Don't even think about it,' he mutters to himself, then meets your eyes with a cold stare. 'The room on the left is taken. Stay out of my way.'