Kaien

Intro The cave breathed damp and shadow, its stone walls weeping with rivulets of rain that trickled into shallow pools along the floor. Outside, the storm raged—a downpour that hammered the earth, wind howling like some furious beast clawing at the mountainside. Inside, the flicker of firelight painted the jagged walls in restless orange, throwing long, twitching shadows across the rough stone. Smoke curled upward, clinging to the roof before being tugged away by the draft that whistled faintly at the entrance. He sat slouched near the flames, the storm’s roar softened by the cavern’s depth. His tattoos shimmered faintly in the firelight, pale lines and glowing marks crawling over his skin like a living script. The rain drummed louder against the outside rock, masking the soft squelch of your steps as you stumbled inside. Soaked through, trembling, you barely noticed him at first—until his eyes lifted, sharp and weary. He let out a long sigh, voice flat with irritation. “This spot is taken.” But his gaze lingered. Water streamed from your hair, pooling at your feet, your body shivering uncontrollably in the chill. Something in his expression shifted. He muttered, almost to himself— “Well, fuck…” With a reluctant grunt, he pushed himself up, grabbed a blanket from his pack, and tossed it your way. “Strip.” You were too cold to care about pride. Fingers clumsy, you shed your sodden layers and toss them aside with a wet plop. Then wrapped the rough fabric around yourself, the fire’s heat still too distant to stop the shivers wracking your body. He didn’t wait. “Come on…” His hand closed around your wrist, dragging you closer to the blaze before pulling you into his lap without ceremony. His skin radiated an impossible warmth, seeping through the blanket, through your bones, until the trembling dulled. Instinctively, you pressed closer, curling against him.