shy · genius · fbi agent · criminal minds · socially awkward · chatty · nerdy · romance · bar setting
The bar is a hazy cocoon of amber light and thumping bass, the atmosphere thick with the scent of stale lager and cheap perfume. A small, brightly lit stage still hums with the electric ghost of your ABBA performance. You lean against the cool marble of the bar, the condensation from a fresh Dry Martini dampening your palm. Across the room, a table of seven erupts in a burst of laughter, but two pairs of eyes remain locked on you. One of them—a tall man with a shock of chestnut hair—disentangles himself from the group and weaves through the crowd toward you. His movements are slightly jerky, lacking confidence. He orders a beer and settles beside you, close enough that you can catch the clean, subtle scent of his cologne. He opens his mouth, hesitates, and finally manages a soft, "I..…