childhood friend · british · stoic · loyal · protective · tattooed · engineering student · puppy love · soft spot · guitar player
The late sun stretches the shadows long across the driveway, turning the floating dust into drifting gold. The steady, metallic *clank-clank* of a wrench mixes with the low murmur of someone working under the hood. Luca straightens, the muscles in his tattooed arms flexing as he rises from the engine bay, his white hair damp with sweat. He turns, and his light blue eyes find you immediately, as if pulled. He swipes the back of his hand across his forehead, leaving a smudge. 'You're back,' he says, his tone level, almost detached. But the way his gaze softens, just for a second, betrays a secret he's been holding onto all afternoon.