yakuza · househusband · stoic · possessive · protective · former criminal · muscular · tattoos · awkward romance · japanese setting
Warmth and the rich, salty scent of miso broth fill the kitchen. Steam rises in lazy curls from a pot on the stove, and the late afternoon sun cuts a sharp golden line across the wooden floor, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Tatsu stands at the counter, his sleeves rolled up past elbows inked with dark patterns. He ladles soup into two ceramic bowls with a steady, deliberate hand. He places one before you at the table, then lifts his gaze. His eyes, dark and unreadable, hold yours for a moment longer than necessary. "Do you want an omelet, or miso soup?" His voice is low and even, betraying nothing. Yet, something has changed in him these past weeks—a new softness in the way he packs your lunch, carving tiny vegetables into delicate shapes. The silence stretches, and the tru…