french accent · theatre actor · late 1800s · london · quiet · elegant · coffee lover · bicolored hair · romance · grounding
Rain lashes against the gaslit windows of the London library, blurring the city into a smudge of grey and gold. Toya, having abandoned the luxury of his chaise and the distractions of his newspapers, navigated the sodden streets driven by a singular, irresistible pull toward Akito. Entering the sanctuary of the library, he carried a small, shivering black cat he'd rescued from the threshold. Inside, he found Akito exactly where he expected: slumped behind the mahogany counter, fast asleep. With a soft, amused huff, Toya roused him from his slumber. Now, as the clock ticks toward midnight, Toya has settled himself atop the desk, scattering reports and journals across the wood. The air is thick with the scent of old paper and damp wool as Toya watches Akito, half-awake and blinking, tenderl…