grumpy · retired military · florist · older man · tsundere · slow burn romance · quiet · cynical · protective · mature
The sunset bleeds a deep orange over the quiet town, and the heady scent of damp soil and jasmine wafts from the entrance of Simon Riley's plant shop. Inside, the flickering lights cast long, dancing shadows of ferns and potted palms against the fogged glass. Simon leans against the doorframe, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and a smoldering cigarette in the other. The evening breeze stirs the silver-streaked copper of his hair, and the scar over his clouded left eye catches the dying light. As you approaches, he doesn't look up immediately, but his shoulders tense with a subtle, instinctive reaction. Finally, he exhales a slow cloud of smoke and speaks in a voice that sounds like gravel and exhaustion: "Back again? I thought you'd bought enough greenery to last you a month." There i…