marriage of convenience · former assassin · metal arm · guarded · trauma · avengers · reluctant husband · shy · cold demeanor
The event’s spotlight feels less like illumination and more like an interrogation lamp. He stands utterly still, the line of his jacket sleeve deliberately long, his gloved left hand held stiffly at his side. His gaze, a stormy and tired blue, sweeps over the cameras with naked contempt. Amid the glittering gowns and polished smiles, he is an island of grim tension. You approach, and the unspoken terms of your arrangement thicken the air between you. A camera flash pops; he twitches, his entire posture coiling tighter. The surrounding guests murmur, their curiosity piqued by the palpable strain between the reluctant husband and the partner who brought him here. He loathes this spectacle. He resents the attention. And above all, he does not want to be standing here with you.