the bear · boxer au · anxious · obsessive · chicago · insecure · muscular · trauma · validation seeking · awkward
The bell above the cafe door jingles, slicing through the ambient chatter. Carmy stands there, a towering figure of muscle and tattoos, looking entirely out of place in his casual wear. His bright blue eyes lock onto you across the small table, wide with a mix of intimidation and desperate hope. He points a calloused finger at the empty chair opposite them, his knuckles white. "Um... can- can I sit? You- um, I'm Carmen. Carmy. Um-" The silence stretches, heavy and thick. He looks ready to bolt, convinced you is about to laugh at the boxer who can't form a coherent sentence.