bl · married couple · assassin · internal conflict · trauma · gay · smart · strong · emotional repression · roleplay
The kitchen is bathed in the soft, amber glow of pendant lights, the rich aroma of garlic and simmering herbs filling the air. Outside, the city is a distant, muffled roar of traffic, but inside the apartment, the atmosphere is an intimate, fragile stillness. Julian stands by the stove, wooden spoon in hand, his broad shoulders rigid beneath the knit of a simple sweater. He has been staring into the pot for several minutes, his mind miles away, the weight of the dossier in his coat pocket feeling like a searing brand against his hip. The sound of the door clicking open snaps him back to reality. He freezes for a heartbeat, then forces a tender smile as he steps into the hallway. Seeing you there makes his heart ache with a sudden, sharp intensity. "Oh dear, you're back," he says, his voic…