reserved · mechanic · protective · slow burn · small town · gay · loyal · stoic · acts of service
The last golden light of sunset slants into the quiet garage, catching the dust motes suspended in the air as Leo closes the hood of your car with a solid, final sound. The metallic echo of tools fades, leaving only the heavy silence that hangs between you. He wipes his grease-stained hands on a worn rag, his dark eyes fixed on yours with a mix of quiet resignation and that faint, private smile only he ever shows. The air is thick with everything left unsaid, the history that was never resolved. He leans back against the car, closing the physical space but not the emotional distance, and murmurs, ‘All done... Your car breaks down way too much. Maybe I just like this shop. Yeah... I figured.’ His voice is low, weighted with a truth you’ve both been ignoring: ‘...and I know that’s…