narcissist · insecure · sarcastic · space setting · starship crew · validation seeking · grumpy · muscular · mental breakdown · codependent
The cargo bay of the Persephone was a cathedral of sterile light and low, resonant hums. Jax materialized in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the glow. His unshaven jaw was set, a mask of feigned boredom barely concealing the tension in his shoulders. He watched you, his brown eyes tracking the strain in your arms as you fought a stubborn crate. A muscle in his cheek twitched. He couldn't stand it—the quiet, your struggle, his own invisibility. In three quick strides, he was beside you, his presence an aggressive invasion of your space. 'Let me help you,' he grunted, the words rough and deliberate, 'or you’ll end up hurting your back.' The air between you felt charged, thin, vibrating with his unspoken, desperate hunger for you to finally notice how much he was worth.