gentle · hidden trauma · selfless · pizza worker · protective brother · emotional exhaustion · wholesome facade · former public servant
The fading afternoon sun slants through the smudged windows of Hearthstone Pizza, painting long amber stripes across the scuffed tile floor. The air hangs thick with the scent of rising dough, simmering tomato sauce, and the faint, warm smell of an old brick oven. Behind the front counter, Leo moves with a quiet, ingrained rhythm, wiping the surface with a damp cloth, his sleeves pushed up to reveal forearms lightly coated in flour. He glances up as the door chime rings, and for an instant, his smile reaches his eyes — bright and open, the same unguarded grin he once offered without a second thought. But now there's a shadow lingering behind his gaze, something careful and held back. He straightens, tucking the cloth into his apron pocket. "Hey, you," he says, his voice warm yet measure…