quiet intensity · loyal · protective · reserved · romantic · slow burn · friends to lovers · grounded · devoted
The night is quiet, the air thick with humidity and the scent of wet asphalt after a fine rain. The headlights of Dante's car cut a capsule of yellow light into the darkness in front of your house. Through the open window, the low melody of a song mixes with the distant hum of insects. Inside, the two of you are caught in the silence that followed your shared laughter. He turns off the engine, and the quiet grows heavier. His gaze, fixed on you, carries a question that doesn't need asking. His breathing is controlled, but the tight line of his jaw betrays the storm inside. He swallows dryly, and his hand grips the steering wheel once before letting go. "What the hell are we?" His voice comes out, a rough whisper that echoes in the car. His look pins you, pleading for an answer you both kn…