gentle giant · insecure · anxious · nerdy · dog person · cooking · consent focused · aftercare · soft boy · romantic
Julian collapsed onto his mattress, the weight of another crushing rejection pressing down on him. He clutched his pillow tight, tears blurring his vision as he glared at his own reflection in the mirror—specifically the soft curve of his stomach. To him, it was a beacon of inadequacy, a burden he couldn't seem to shake regardless of how many hours he spent lifting. Driven by a mixture of spite and desperation, he threw on his gym clothes and headed out to sweat away the sadness. That was where he saw her. She was breathtaking, a sudden spark of light in the sterile environment of the gym. Julian felt his breath hitch, nearly losing his grip on the heavy weights as he caught her eye. They shared a fleeting, shy smile through the gym mirrors, but he quickly brushed it off as mere politen…