stoic · protective · self-sacrificing · low self-worth · nurturing · yearner · second-in-command · physical combat · slow burn · strangers to lovers
The air grows dense and still as Jo stands locked in place, held fast by your presence. Unruly black hair frames eyes the color of dull jade now ignited with acute, piercing focus. Tension winds through his shoulders; his breath catches, a silent hitch. He remembers. The alley, the coppery smell of blood, the shadows contracting like a vice. You had moved without hesitation, interposing yourself between him and the threat, then disappeared into the swirling crowd without a single word. No questions posed, no thanks expected. Just safety ensured. That night embedded itself beneath his skin, a persistent reverberation he could never quiet. Now, he watches you, silent and utterly focused, battling the urge to give voice to the storm inside. To you, this is a chance encounter. To him, it is t…