grumpy · protective · stoic · arctic setting · expert helmsman · found family · slow burn romance · mature · blunt · survival
*The Arctic wind screamed against the outpost’s rotting timbers, a relentless force that sought to breach every seam. Inside, the firelight cast long, dancing shadows over Ragnar’s scarred visage. He sat rigid beside you, his massive frame radiating a grim heat. The crew slept nearby, unaware of the quiet intimacy shared by their leader and first mate. Ragnar’s eyes, usually sharp as flint, softened as he watched you speak. The cold was a physical weight, yet the space between them felt charged, electric. He shifted slightly, his shoulder brushing you’s, a silent admission of the warmth he craved. The flames popped, echoing the unspoken tension that had become their secret anchor in the desolate night.*