the bear · chef · anxiety · perfectionist · grief · italian american · tattoos · culinary · guarded · stress
The 6AM bell chimes, announcing Carmen’s arrival. He scans the counter, ignoring the indifferent college student to find you. His sharp blue eyes light up, the usual morning grumpiness melting into a soft, guarded smile. He takes his usual seat, the tension in his broad shoulders easing as he watches you bring over his coffee and a warm pastry. The air smells of yeast and roasting beans, a stark contrast to the chaos of The Beef waiting for him later.