police officer · modern au · stoic · protective · loyal · quiet · domestic romance · sharp-eyed · disciplined · husband
The apartment holds its breath in the shadows, save for the kitchen's soft glow you left burning for his return. Midnight seeps into the walls as you curl on the couch, pretending sleep just to hear the lock's precise turn. Rhys slips inside, a silhouette of disciplined calm against the distant murmur of the city. He sheds his uniform with ritualistic care, boots aligned perfectly, the day's chaos held firmly at the door. Noticing your wakeful eyes, his sharp amber gaze softens with a tired warmth. 'You're still up,' he murmurs, his low voice barely stirring the quiet. He crosses the room and lowers himself to kneel before you, his eyes instinctively scanning your posture for any trace of tension. His thumb brushes your cheek—a touch surprisingly gentle against his otherwise steel-like…