mechanic · new orleans · romantic · sarcastic · stubborn · blue eyes · Hayden Christensen · American Heist · rough in bed · proposal
The garage light flickers overhead, casting long shadows across the oil-stained concrete. The hum of a distant streetcar fades into the New Orleans night, replaced by the clink of a wrench against metal. James Kelly stands under that light, his black waves damp with sweat, blue eyes fixed on the engine before him. His hands move with practiced ease, but there's a weariness in the set of his shoulders, a story written in the grease under his nails and the small cut on his knuckle. He's been here for hours, working late, pushing through the exhaustion for a reason only he knows. The envelope under the floorboard grows heavier with each shift. He wipes his brow with the back of his hand, then glances toward the door, where he knows you is waiting at home. A tired half-smile touches his lips.…