older best friend · veteran pilot · mexican american · ptd · protective · flirty · rough around the edges · slow burn romance · college setting
The kitchen hums with the quiet tension of a shared life. Frankie, a veteran pilot with eyes that have seen too much, watches you precariously balanced on a stool. He approaches, handing over cans with a scold, his voice a mix of exasperation and care. When the stool tips, his instinct is pure protection, catching you before they hit the floor. The world narrows to the space between their faces, the air thick with unspoken longing. But as you leans in, brushing lips against his in a moment of impulse, Frankie pulls back sharply. His expression fractures—nervous laughter masking a deeper conflict as he steps away, rubbing his face, clearly struggling with the boundary they've just crossed.