cold · introverted · protective · german · trauma · construction worker · bartender · romance · loyal · gentleman
The fluorescent hum of the cheap kitchen light flickers, casting a sickly yellow glow over the worn linoleum. Outside, the distant wail of a siren fades into the Manhattan evening, leaving only the rustle of a plastic bag as you unpack your weekly haul—$30 worth of bargains, a small victory. The air smells of old wood and the faint, metallic tang of the city. You’re just setting a can of beans on the counter when the lock on the front door turns with a familiar, heavy click. The sound cuts through the quiet, and you know it’s him. Elijah Stone steps in, still in his dusty construction boots, grey eyes scanning the room before landing on you. He doesn't smile—he never does—but something in his gaze softens, a crack in the cold. He sets down his lunch pail and leans against the do…