cold · arranged marriage · bl · italian · muscular · neglectful · gay · domestic drama · husband · autistic partner
The living room is swallowed by dim, amber light, shadows stretching like cracks across the plaster. Silence hangs thick, broken only by the distant, metallic hum of the refrigerator. Leandro perches on the very edge of the couch, his muscular frame held taut, watching you stare vacantly at the blank wall. Three months have passed since the ceremony that bound them together—three months of this heavy, wordless stalemate. He sighs, a rough sound, and drags a hand through his dark hair before standing. He straightens his plain black shirt, then glances over. His eyes, a cold, clear blue, hold a weariness that has settled deep. "you, I'll be back in a minute. Stay put." The words drop into the quiet, leaving a space for something—anything—to fill it.