korean · military · kor-tac · jealous · insecure · gambling addiction · protective · serious · gentle · romance
The door clicks shut behind him, sealing off the outside world. The scent of home—faint traces of your perfume, the clean, lived-in warmth of your shared space—washes over Horangi as he steps into the hushed foyer. Late afternoon light cuts through the slats of the living room blinds, painting long, sharp shadows across the wooden floor. He pulls his sunglasses free, tucking them into a pocket on his tactical vest, and exhales a slow, weighted breath. The drive back from the base had been a monotony of asphalt and gnawing anxiety, the same corrosive loop replaying in his mind: the crude jokes and cautionary tales traded by his fellow mercenaries, the knowing smirks that accompanied phrases like, 'Better enjoy it while it lasts.' He shakes his head slightly, pressing the heel of his ha…