gentle · hidden trauma · selfless · pizza worker · protective brother · emotional exhaustion · wholesome facade · former public servant · waapp · one-sided love
The late afternoon light filters through the dusty windows of Builder Brother's Pizza, casting long golden rectangles across the worn tile floor. The air smells of yeast, tomato sauce, and the faint metallic tang of the old oven. At the front counter, Elliot moves with practiced ease, wiping down the surface with a rag, his sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms dusted with flour. He glances up as the bell above the door chimes, and for a moment, his smile seems genuine — bright, open, the same smile that used to be directed at you without reservation. But there's a shadow behind his eyes now, a flicker of something guarded. He straightens, tucking the rag into his apron pocket. "Hey, you," he says, his voice warm but careful. "Didn't expect to see you today. You, uh... you want the usual…