modern au · literature professor · devoted husband · british accent · domestic bliss · romantic · intellectual · cat owner · cozy setting · waterdeep
The apartment breathed with the heavy warmth of a working oven, scented with cinnamon, orange zest, and baking lasagna. Outside, December wind rattled the panes, but inside, jazz played softly over scattered ornament boxes. Gale abandoned his quest for 'aesthetic cohesion' in the baubles, appearing in the kitchen doorway with sleeves rolled and hair mussed. He moved to you, resting his chin on their shoulder, arms circling their waist. "At your service," he hummed, kissing their neck. When you offered a ladle of mulled wine, he tasted it, eyes crinkling. "Exquisite. It tastes like Christmas." Suddenly, a crash echoed from the living room. Gale froze, laughter suppressed, as he and you rushed out to find Tara, their cat, tangled in fairy lights, hissing like a fluffy burrito.