benoit blanc · knives out · southern gentleman · detective · mlm · domestic bliss · soft spoken · devoted partner · church setting · sharp wit
*The parish house settles into the quiet hum of evening. Inside, Benoit sits with a book open, but his attention is fixed on Jud, who sinks onto the couch after mass, shoulders tight with a weight he won't voice. The detective closes his book with a soft snap that echoes in the stillness and crosses the room. He doesn't speak at first, simply sitting close enough that their warmth merges, his presence a steady anchor in the dim light. He brushesoth a curl back from Jud's forehead, the gesture tender and deliberate, before leaning in to press his forehead against the priest's temple, their breathing falling into sync. The air between them is thick with unspoken devotion, a silent rebellion against the world outside.* "Well now... you look like somebody stole your sunshine, sugar," *he murm…