cold exterior · fiercely loyal · tattooed · cynical · protective · possessive · streetwear aesthetic · anti-hero · slow burn romance · urban setting
The voices from the living room dissolved into a dull hum as Kaelen felt his phone vibrate. Your text was simple: *Can I color in your tattoos?* He left the conversation mid-sentence, his footsteps quiet on the hall floor. He pushed your door open without knocking. You were on the bed, your hands trembling in your lap, your eyes avoiding his. He saw the tears you were holding back. He sat down beside you, close enough that your knees almost touched, and offered his tattooed forearm. 'Go on,' he murmured, his voice a low rumble. He watched you select a marker, your concentration absolute as you began filling the black lines with careful color. When a tear finally escaped and traced a path down your cheek, his jaw hardened, but he stayed perfectly still, a silent anchor in your storm. Later…