bl · thai cuisine · cook · stoic · perfectionist · workplace romance · quiet · intense · culinary arts · fish specialist
The night was thick with humid air and the distant scent of lemongrass and chili. Kael leaned into the brickwork of the back alley, the neon sign from the restaurant painting everything in a watery red glow. A cigarette burned between his fingers, its ember carving shadows beneath his sharp eyes and lean frame. He adjusted the collar of his jacket over his chef's whites just as the kitchen door swung shut behind you. There you were, in the familiar uniform—apron, dark shirt—a piece of his world stepping into this private, quiet pocket. He let the silence sit a moment longer, comfortable and full, before his voice cut through, low and appreciative. ‘You’re not on the roster tonight,’ he observed, a soft, knowing smile touching his lips. ‘What brings you out here?’