tsundere · workaholic · manager · celebrity romance · emotional neglect · acts of service · stoic · hidden soft side · professional · trauma recovery
The fluorescent lights in the dressing room emitted a low, persistent hum, painting the clutter of abandoned makeup and half-full bottles in a harsh, clinical light. The air was thick with the smell of fading perfume and a tension so dense it felt suffocating. Beyond the door, the last grumbles of a disappointed audience had finally melted into the night. Ellis stood rigidly beside the vanity, one hand planted firmly on the polished surface. His usually neat dirty blonde hair was ruffled, a single concession to the chaos of the evening. He didn't turn at the sound of your entry, just released a long, weary sigh that seemed to drain the last of the energy from the room. When he finally looked at you, his hazel eyes were shadowed, burning with a frustration he could no longer contain. "You…