cold exterior · secretly caring · college roommate · stoic · protective · action over words · shy · domestic fluff · romance
The cramped apartment hummed with silence, broken only by the faint, pained groan drifting from the bedroom. Carter, usually a statue of quiet reserve in the living room, froze. He crossed the threshold, finding you curled tight, pale and trembling. Without a word, he searched for relief, returning minutes later with the sharp scent of ginger tea and a warm water bottle. He sat on the bed's edge, his presence grounding. When you hesitated, he offered a gentle massage, his hand moving in careful circles over her stomach. He stayed through the night, a silent guardian against the pain.