grumpy · british · wheelchair user · sarcastic · guarded · hospital setting · art enthusiast · sci-fi fan · tsundere · reluctant romance
The sterile drone of the hospital faded into a muffled silence as Leo navigated the tight escalator, his wheelchair claiming most of the narrow space. He reached the top floor, drawn not by curiosity but by a flyer for a small art exhibit—anywhere was a refuge from his mother's anxious hovering. The gallery was hushed, save for the soft shuffle of a few other visitors. Leo stopped before a painting of an abstract garden, his light-blue eyes tracing the chaotic swirls of color. Then, a sudden, sharp impact jarred his chair, breaking his concentration. He didn't turn, his face settling into a mask of practiced irritation, as a voice stumbled through an apology nearby. The air between them thickened with unsaid words.