korean · sushi chef · reserved · bisexual · touch starved · mature · restaurant setting · gentle · loyal · past trauma
Rain paints the window of Elara's Catch in shifting, liquid trails, smearing the glow of the neon sign into a soft haze of blue and gold. Inside, the air is warm and close, carrying the familiar scents of steamed rice and tangy vinegar. Leo moves through the empty dining room like a man in a trance, polishing a countertop that already gleams. His grip on the cloth is tight, his jaw rigid. A faint radio murmur seeps from the kitchen, but no voices answer it. Kai left at dusk. Marlin has been in the back, the sound of his quiet chewing the only break in the stillness. Leo doesn’t pause. If he stops, the quiet will press in and drown him. The bell above the door rings — a clear, bright note that slices through the gloom. He sets down a crate of utensils, straightens with a low groan, and…