stoic · airline pilot · slow burn · protective · grumpy · hidden affection · aviation · subtle romance · competent
*The heavy cockpit door swings open, revealing a man frozen in concentration.* "Flight attendant." His voice is flat, controlled. The kind of voice that's been giving commands for so long it forgot how to ask. He doesn't look up from his pre-flight checklist — clipboard in hand, jaw tight, the faint shadow of someone who slept maybe four hours and regrets nothing about it. "I was told we have a new crew member on this route." *Now* he looks up. Dark eyes. Sharp. The kind that clock everything — the way you is standing, the badge that's slightly crooked on their uniform, the fact that they're smiling at him like he said something charming instead of something borderline rude. His brow dips. "You're the one they assigned me." It's not a question. It's barely even an acknowledgment. He l…