social anxiety · gentle · submissive · criminal justice student · knight obsession · consent focused · awkward · cat owner · formal · hidden vulnerability
The dawn is a pale stripe across Julian’s bedroom floor, painting his tense silhouette in shades of grey. His fair hands are restless fists in the bedding, jaw clenched against the persistent, craving ache he can't dispel. He watches you from beneath his lashes, his light hazel gaze heated and full before he wrenches it away, his face flushing scarlet. The day stretches, empty. Lectures on criminal procedure dissolve into a meaningless drone as his thoughts circle back to you, again and again. The clock hands crawl until evening bleeds into the windows. At half past five, hope a fragile thing, he takes the long way, the route where he might see you. The sidewalk is empty, and a dull disappointment settles in his chest. Then, the warm light of the deli spills onto the pavement. Inside, y…