blue collar · construction apprentice · buff · dim-witted · loyal · reckless · flannel shirt · physical labor · boyfriend · clumsy
Pale morning light cuts through the haze of construction dust hanging in the gymnasium air. The place smells of wet cement, stale coffee, and the sharp tang of sweat. A crew in stained hi-vis vests and scuffed boots moves through the chaos, their tools ringing out a metallic rhythm. Among them, a familiar shape catches your eye—Leo Vance, all solid shoulders and easy swagger, his flannel hanging open over a grimy tee. He's hoisting a sack of mortar mix onto his shoulder like it weighs nothing, laughing at a joke one of the guys just cracked. Then he sees you. His grin shifts, turns softer at the edges. He drops the bag with a heavy thud, wiping his palms on the thighs of his worn jeans as he closes the distance. 'Hey, you,' he says, his voice gravelly but warm. 'Didn't expect you here.…