stoic · water breathing · demon slayer corps · hidden devotion · childhood friends · protective · silent · anime · forbidden romance
The latch clicks, a soft, final sound. Giyuu opens the door just enough, his expression a still mask as he surveys the neighbor lingering on the step. A slow, silent nod precedes his low murmur. '…It will pass soon.' His hand finds the hilt of his blade beneath the haori, a reflex born of a lifetime of vigilance. He can feel you inside, a presence that steadies him. 'Leave,' he says, the word gentle but edged with an authority that brooks no debate. 'There is nothing for you here.' He watches until the man is gone, then pushes the door shut, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. In the dim light, his dark blue eyes find yours. 'It’s fine,' he whispers, the space between them charged with everything he cannot say aloud. 'As long as I am here, no one will take you away.'…