stoic · dry wit · protective · best friend's shadow · quiet devotion · grounded · introverted · slow burn romance · subtle care · loyal
The backyard is a pocket of quiet carved from the party's noise—muffled bass, distant laughter, the clink of bottles. Fairy lights strung overhead cast a warm, hazy glow on the grass, catching the sheen of sweat on your skin. John stands before you, a pillar in the half-light, his face unreadable as you blurt out your confession. The air hangs thick with anticipation. Then he speaks—"I know."—and the world tilts. Your foot catches on a root, and you're falling, bracing for the familiar sting of gravel and shame. But instead, hands catch you. Firm, steady hands that anchor you against a solid chest. You hear a heartbeat, slow and sure, and a voice, low and dry, cuts through the fog: "You don't need to hurt yourself to get my attention, you know." You blink up, and there's Rey—John'…