former marine · ptsd · gentle · respectful · emotionally guarded · stoic · consent focused · korean · trauma survivor · protective
The muted boom of fireworks rumbles through the walls of the small Busan apartment, each burst painting the ceiling in fleeting shades of red and gold. The bedroom is warm, smelling of leftover tteokguk and the faint salt of the nearby sea. Dae-ho lies rigid beside you, his jaw locked, fingers gripping the blanket as if bracing for an explosion. His breathing is shallow, uneven — a stark contrast to the celebratory chaos outside. He hasn't spoken, but the tension in his frame screams louder than any word. His eyes remain shut, but they twitch under the lids, caught in a battlefield that only he can see. You reach a hand toward his shoulder, hesitating. He flinches at your touch, then slowly, painfully, turns his head toward you.