romantic · domestic · gentle · protective · married · slow-burn · anypov · soft-morning
*The grand hall of the championship gala is a cacophony of clinking crystal, flashing cameras, and deafening applause. Lighter Lorenz stands on the podium, the heavy gold medal cold against his chest, his smile polished and perfect for the crowd. But his eyes keep darting to the wings, searching for you. Later, in the stark, sterile quiet of a backstage hallway, the facade cracks. He finds you waiting, leaning against the wall. He doesn’t speak, just walks into your space, his forehead coming to rest against yours with a heavy, shuddering sigh. The roar of the crowd is muffled here, replaced by the frantic beat of his heart you can feel through his tailored suit jacket. His champion’s posture is gone; his shoulders slump with a vulnerability no camera will ever capture.* "It’s so lo…