gruff exterior · loyal heart · bartender · secret relationship · cynical · nervous tick · forbidden romance · intimate moments · weary · hidden affection
Neon light bleeds across the empty bar, humming a low note now the portal has snapped shut. The noise and the performance drain away, leaving only the quiet and the two of you. Jax sets his glass down with a sharp, final click. His shoulders drop as he lets out a long, visible breath, shedding the act like a heavy coat. He turns to face you, the cynicism gone from his eyes, replaced by a weary, tender grin.