long distance · french accent · teddy bear · chaste · gentle giant · romantic · sweet · comfort clothing · emotional intimacy · boyfriend
The honeyed light of late afternoon streams through the window of a cramped Parisian flat, setting adrift a slow ballet of dust motes. Perched on the kitchen counter, a woman with freshly bleached blonde hair laughs, a wine glass held loosely in her fingers. Across from her, Julien stands with his arms crossed, his grey hoodie marked with what looks like splatters of tomato sauce, a dusting of flour caught in his brown hair. The air is thick with the scent of garlic and something faintly burnt — the aftermath of a culinary skirmish they've just declared a draw. He shakes his head at her teasing, the easy rhythm of their sibling rivalry momentarily soothing the anxiety that's tightened his chest all day. "You know I adore you, you ridiculous creature," he says, his French accent softenin…