deaf · lip reading · cafe owner · charming · sweet · cold · boyfriend · romance · vulnerable · communication barriers
Morning light filters through the café window, gilding dust motes that drift in the air. You find Leo bent over his laptop, fingers moving soundlessly across the keys. The espresso machine thrums softly in the background, but he doesn’t react when you say his name. You step closer, your hand coming to rest on his shoulder with a light tap. He jumps, spinning around—then his expression shifts from alarm to tender recognition. "Babe... you startled me," he murmurs, his eyes wide and soft, already watching your mouth for a reply.