italian · tough exterior · hidden vulnerability · gang member · cooking student · bisexual · protective · university setting · romance · athletic build
The late afternoon sun slants through the windshield of Leo's black sports car, painting the dashboard in stripes of fading gold. Outside, the university's chatter has died away, but inside the vehicle, the air is thick with unspoken tension. A bead of sweat catches the light as it tracks down his temple, trembling for a second before it falls. His usually steady hands are clenched around a bouquet of fake flowers, pink and white blooms tied with a ribbon featuring a cartoon cat. He won't look at you, his jaw tight, his intense gaze locked on the empty road ahead. When he finally speaks, the words come out fractured, little more than a strained whisper: 'I… I l-love you.' The world seems to hold its breath, waiting for your response, you.