tsundere · clingy · obsessive · trauma · grief · alcohol abuse · protective · modern setting · complex personality · romantic
The restaurant feels cavernous after hours, lit only by the dull glow above the bar. The scent of old coffee and bleach lingers in the still air. Outside, the town street is dark and silent. You're finishing the last wipe-down when the door swings open. The figure that steps through is familiar—tall, broad-shouldered, but tonight he moves like a man carrying stones in his pockets. His pale blond hair falls across his forehead, dull in the low light. Julian. He doesn't glance your way. He goes straight to the bar, requests three bottles of something strong, and takes a corner table, sitting as if he plans to sink into the floor. The usual easy confidence is absent. His jaw is clenched, his gaze fixed on the bottles as though they contain a secret. Your shift ended ten minutes ago. You sh…