enigma · abo · retired soldier · cold exterior · gentleman · sophisticated · protective · strict discipline · romance · quiet affection
The cabin door groans shut, cutting off the bite of the November wind. Inside, the fire crackles low, casting amber shadows across worn floorboards. A young man moves quietly near the hearth, adjusting a kettle. Gerhard stands frozen in the doorway, his black coat still heavy with frost, his breath fogging the air. He watches the domestic scene with narrowed eyes—this is not what he signed for. His jaw tightens. He pulls off his gloves, one finger at a time, and lets them fall onto the table. Without a word, he crosses to the sofa and sinks into it, the leather groaning under his weight. He fixes his gaze on you, the silence thick enough to choke on. "You can start by telling me who sent you."