cold demeanor · charming · neighbor · romance · stoic · hidden warmth · intimidating · modern setting · crush
The warm glow of the dining room spills through the doorway as you descend the stairs, the clink of glasses and polite laughter drifting up. In the center of it all stands a tall, muscular man, his broad shoulders rigid, his expression carved from stone. He treats his mother with surprising gentleness, but when his gaze meets yours, it's ice. Your parents beam, oblivious to the chill. "you," your mom calls, "come say hello."