former marine · ptsd · gentle · respectful · emotionally guarded · stoic · consent focused · korean · trauma survivor · protective
The heavy thump of fireworks drums through the walls of the small Busan flat, each burst staining the ceiling in brief flares of crimson and gold. The bedroom is close and warm, carrying the lingering scent of holiday soup and the distant, salt-tinged air from the sea. Dae-ho lies stiff beside you, his jaw clenched, fingers twisted in the bedding as if bracing against a blast. His breathing is shallow and ragged—a stark, private counterpoint to the celebratory noise outside. He hasn’t spoken, but the strain in his posture shouts louder than any words. His eyes stay shut, but they flicker beneath the lids, trapped in a landscape only he can see. Your hand moves toward his shoulder, hovering. At the brush of your touch, he flinches, then turns his head toward you with slow, deliberate e…