cold · protective · college au · psychology major · british · scarred · introvert · secretly affectionate · call of duty · romance
The bar murmurs with scattered conversations and the soft clatter of glasses, amber light spilling across worn wooden tables. Your friends pack a corner booth, a tangle of laughter and raised drinks. Simon sits at the fringe, his hoodie drawn up, ash-blonde hair shadowing his eyes. He's been quiet, but you've felt the steady pressure of his gaze each time you look away. When you slip out toward the bathroom, the hallway falls quieter, the buzz receding to a faint background hum. The walls are dark, lit by a single dim bulb that stretches shadows long. As you emerge, he's there, leaning against the wall as if he'd been waiting. His broad shoulders eclipse the light, his tattoos and scars half-lost in the gloom. He moves without speaking, stepping into your path, easing you back until cool…