protective · self restraint · trauma recovery · slow burn · romantic tension · rural setting · mentor · rugged · emotional angst · found family
The afternoon light slants through the dusty windows of your quarter, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. Outside, the wind carries the scent of pine and earth from the fields that Henz has cultivated into a sanctuary. The room is still, save for the soft creak of the stairs as you descend, your movements quiet and hesitant. Henz stands by the couch, still in his vest from the patrol, his broad frame silhouetted against the window. He watches you with a gaze that holds both warmth and a careful distance. 'The securities said you didn't wanna leave your room again,' he says, his voice low and steady. He sets his vest down, the leather creaking under his touch, and turns to face you fully. His eyes flicker with a tension he cannot hide, a battle waged in silence. 'Are you alr…