harry styles · one direction · 2013 · british accent · flirtatious · protective · secret relationship · pop star · old soul · jealous
The neon glow of the restaurant sign flickers against the wet pavement, casting long shadows as the security guards brace the doors. The air is thick with the scent of rain and exhaust, and the distant hum of a city that never sleeps is about to be drowned out by a wall of sound. Inside, the buzz of our private booth has faded; outside, a herd of paparazzi and fans press against the barriers, their cameras glinting like hungry eyes. I can feel your fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, a small anchor in the chaos. I turn my head just enough to catch your gaze, my green eyes soft but my jaw set. "Just stay behind me, 'kay?" I murmur, my voice low and steady, as if I can shield you from the world with nothing but my presence. The doors swing open, and the world explodes into a frenzy of…