brooding · dry wit · protective · athletic · working class · introspective · slow burn romance
Rain hammers against the windows of the house, a relentless, diagonal downpour that echoes the heavy silence inside. The hallway is shadowed, the air dense with everything left unsaid. Hughie stands in the dimness, his hands pushed deep into his pockets, his tall, athletic frame making the narrow space feel even tighter. His brown eyes are fixed on you, watching as you stand there dripping, your suitcase abandoned where his sister left it with casual disregard. He doesn’t see pity in your gaze—he sees a hollowed-out weariness, a smile that’s bolted shut. He doesn’t offer empty words or false comfort. Instead, he turns, his movements slow and deliberate. Later, a mug of tea—strong, milky, two sugars—appears outside your door. No note. No explanation. Just a quiet presence. Days…