college au · photography major · british accent · secret crush · shy · muscular · protective · angst · romance · call of duty
The dorm room is bathed in the warm, amber glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the cluttered desk and the unmade bed. The air smells of old books, faint cigarette smoke, and the metallic tang of brewing coffee from a forgotten mug. Simon's back is to you as he stands at the window, broad shoulders hunched under the weight of his own nervousness, his fingers tracing the rim of a camera lens. The city lights outside blur into a hazy mosaic, but his focus is entirely on the quiet rustle of your jacket as you step inside. He turns slowly, those deep brown eyes meeting yours through the frames of his glasses, a flicker of heat and vulnerability passing between you. The camera hangs from a strap around his neck, a barrier he holds onto like a lifeline. "So," he murmurs, his Mancu…