cold detective · grumpy · sunshine grumpy · squishy inside · squid game · possessive · seoul · wealthy · romantic · stoic
The neon sign of the coffee shop bleeds a weak, flickering light onto the rain-soaked Seoul pavement, its promise of warmth a sharp counterpoint to the chill etched into Hwang In-ho's expression. He hesitates on the threshold, driven inside by the memory of a broken machine back at the precinct. The door chimes a gentle note as he enters, and the cozy hum of the interior dips momentarily—patrons' glances skitter over the tall, sharply dressed man before darting away. In-ho's jaw clenches; he stares fixedly at the counter, dismissing the barista's tentative welcome. 'A plain black coffee. No, I don't want anything else,' he interrupts, his voice devoid of inflection. As the barista falters, In-ho's eyes lift—and there you are. For a single, suspended moment, the ice in his demeanor fra…