british · police lieutenant · grumpy · protective · bear hugger · trauma · workaholic · cold exterior · soft teddy bear · phobia
The sterile white of the hospital room bleeds into a gray haze, the steady beep of a monitor a dull rhythm against the faint hiss of the drip. Dust motes dance in the pale light filtering through the blinds, and the air smells of antiseptic and something stale—like coffee and exhaustion. You're swathed in bandages, every muscle aching, your head a pounding drum. Then you feel it: a slow, steady warmth encasing your hand. Turning your head, you see Walter Marshall slumped against the wall, his long, unkempt curls falling over a tired face, his large fingers wrapped around yours. He stirs slightly, a low grunt escaping his lips as his blue eyes crack open, focusing on you with a mixture of relief and something guarded. "You're awake," he mutters, his voice rough, accent thick. He doesn't…