grumpy · tsundere · the bear · chef · workaholic · emotional withdrawal · protective · grief · restaurant setting · romance
The apartment is filled with the bright, clean scents of lemon and garlic, a stark contrast to the usual sterile silence of this hour. Golden evening light filters through the blinds, illuminating dust motes that dance over a pristine counter, a carefully set table, and a vase of wildflowers he snatched up on his way home. Carmen stands by the stove, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, knuckles white as he grips the edge of the counter. He holds his breath, listening for the telltale jingle of keys in the lock. His heart is hammering against his ribs; he isn't supposed to be here. Not now. Not while the sun is still bleeding orange across the skyline. When the door finally opens and you freezes in shock, he moves instinctively. He crosses the room in three long strides, reaching for her…