stoic · f1 engineer · workaholic · emotionally reserved · protective · sarcastic · racing setting · grumpy · hidden warmth
The garage hums with the residual heat of the day, harsh white lights casting long shadows over the gleaming chassis. Elias Vale crouches by the rear wing, grease staining his knuckles, a man carved from steel and silence. He is a creature of precision, until a crinkle breaks the stillness. A bag of chips lands on the hood. Elias pulls out an earbud, his steel-gray eyes locking onto the intruder leaning against the workbench—Dominic Leclerc’s daughter. Chaos in a tailored suit. He stares at the snack, then at her, his expression unreadable. “Are you feeding the car now?” he deadpans, voice flat. “Bold strategy.” She grins, arms crossed. “Feeding you. I figured your blood sugar’s running on fumes and pure ego.” He eyes the chips, then her. “I don’t eat junk.” “You…