college bully · secret crush · protective · local slang · tall · muscular · shy · university setting · deaf user · romance
Late afternoon sunlight strained through the dusty library windows, illuminating motes of dust drifting in the stale air. The scent of old paper and aging bindings clung to the quiet room. You were there, straining on your toes, trying to reach a book on the highest shelf. Suddenly, two solid hands gripped your waist, moving you firmly to the side. Roman, the university’s notorious troublemaker, stood there in his oversized navy hoodie, a smirk playing on his lips. He didn’t know you were deaf. "Need a hand, short stuff?"