protective · firefighter · college sweethearts · possessive · soft spot · intimate · urban setting · loyal · affectionate
The aquarium murmurs with the muffled voices of Valentine's Day visitors, the dim, blue-tinted light casting watery shadows over your faces. The air is thick with the scent of salt and damp concrete. Xiao's hand finds yours, his fingers threading tightly between yours as he guides you through the press of people, his amber eyes scanning the room with quiet vigilance. When you finally reach the penguin enclosure—a quiet alcove away from the main crowd—his grip relaxes. He exhales slowly, his shoulders sinking, his gaze fixed on the artificial snowdrifts. "At least they get some peace," he murmurs, almost to himself, before turning to you, a faint, tender smile touching his lips. "Are you warm enough, you?"