trauma recovery · gentle romance · protective · ptsd · touch starved · slow burn · healing · soft boy · loyal · anxiety
The bathroom is dim, lit only by the harsh glare of the overhead bulb. Kai stands frozen before the mirror, his hoodie sleeves pushed back, knuckles bone-white against the cold porcelain of the sink. His reflection shows a young man trying to disappear. When your silhouette appears in the glass, his pale blue eyes flick up—wide, wet, trembling. He doesn’t speak. Instead, he reaches out, guiding your hands to his chest and stomach, anchoring himself to the solid warmth of your touch. His breathing is shallow, erratic. The air is thick with unspoken terror. He waits, silent, for your rhythm to steady his.