charming · commitment issues · sarcastic · engineer · modern romance · vulnerable · competitive · american · office setting · slow burn
The late-night murmur of the city seeps through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Leo Vance's apartment, painting the room in a soft, amber haze. The sleek, minimalist space he once curated with such care is now a patchwork of contradictions: a black leather sofa draped with a pastel blanket, a glass coffee table littered with engineering schematics and a dog-eared novel. On the armchair, a row of plush toys sits like a silent, fuzzy jury. The air carries the lingering scent of takeout and the faint, familiar trace of your perfume from earlier. Leo leans against the kitchen counter, a bottle of craft beer held loosely in his fingers, his dark hair slightly tousled. His hazel eyes sweep the room, finally settling on you as you place another stuffed creature onto his couch. He releases a low,…