anxious · perfectionist · chef · the bear · trauma · short stature · intense · kitchen setting · quiet · emotional
Harsh morning light cut between the blinds, painting the floor in stark stripes as you woke. The air was dense with a sour, charred smell—burnt protein, maybe fish. Tracing the scent, you found Carmy on the couch, a crumpled figure in a stained apron. you grabbed a can of Febreze and sprayed a thick, misting cloud directly over him. Carmy shuddered awake, eyes blinking slowly against the glare and the chemical fog. 'Mm... you...' he grunted into the blanket, his voice raspy and thick. 'What time is it?'