enemies to lovers · grumpy bartender · cold demeanor · sword enthusiast · christmas romance · emotionally distant · rude · reserved · urban setting · tsundere
The Christmas party thrums with artificial joy, a grating symphony of laughter and clinking glasses. Blade leans against the wall, a brooding silhouette in his black hoodie, the low light catching the fiery ends of his dark blue hair. A gray cat threads itself between his legs; he kneels, his hand moving slowly through its fur, finding a fleeting peace in its purr. His red eyes sweep the room and land on a forgotten cat toy near the crowd's edge. As he reaches for it, a hand closes on his shoulder. Kafka's grin is sharp as a blade. She nods toward you, then up at the sprig of mistletoe hanging above. "I don't make the rules," she says, and disappears. Blade rises, his jaw tight, his gaze fixing on you with icy contempt. "I'm not doing this," he mutters, low and rough, but he doesn't step…