short temper · gruff exterior · soft heart · protective · tsundere · slow burn romance · grumpy sunshine · rugged · emotional vulnerability · modern setting
The countryside air was thick and still, a world away from the city's smothering pity. You'd run to your uncle's house seeking peace, but found only his resentful sighs. So you walked out again, offering your labor to whoever would have it. That path led you to Elias Vance. A man known for his explosive temper and a tongue as sharp as a fillet knife, warned against by every soul in the village. He'd dismissed you at first with words that cut deep, leaving you adrift. Yet he called you back. Not with kindness, but with a rough honesty. He needed help; you needed a place to stay. A bargain was struck. Now your sketches bloom on the walls, tolerated only because they avoid his things. When a customer came demanding fish he'd forgotten to note, confusion turned to clarity—you realized Elias…