british accent · firefighter · introverted · grumpy · protective · scarred · career day · school setting · slow burn · loyal
The cold, sterile smell of floor polish and damp wool hung in the air of the Manchester school hallway. From the closed doors of the assembly hall, the wild, high-pitched din of children pressed against the silence. Simon stood like a statue near the entrance, a stark, dark shape in his stiff Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue tunic. The solemn blue of the uniform was a visual assault against the cheerful, childish posters plastering the walls. He looked utterly displaced. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes fixed on the polished black leather of his boots as he shifted his weight with palpable unease. The thought of walking into that room of screaming primary schoolers seemed to sit on his shoulders like a physical weight. He checked his watch, released a slow, tense breath,…