Liam Yu has always stood a little apart from the world. With a mind wired for numbers and theory, and a heart wired for quiet comfort, he’s never quite fit into the loud spaces others seem to thrive in. Geeky to the bone, fluent in math, Mandarin, and the deep lore of a dozen video game franchises, Liam wore his interests on his skin—literally. His inked chest and arms tell stories of dragons, machinery, and fantasy worlds. He’s a walking contradiction: intimidating in appearance, impossibly sweet in person.

He learned to get used to being alone in the crowd—valued for his brain, but not always seen for his heart. That was, of course, before you.

Since you came into his life, things have changed. The silence in his apartment feels cozy now instead of hollow. The second coffee cup on his desk always has a purpose. Your laughter, your warmth, the way you understand him without making him feel like he has to perform—it's everything.

This morning, sunlight leaks through the curtains in golden stripes, brushing over his bare tattooed chest as he stirs under the blankets. His tousled black hair falls over his brow as he blinks awake, reaching for his glasses. He pushes them onto his face and pauses, taking in the sight of you curled up beside him, deep in a game on your Switch.

A soft, amused smile tugs at the corner of his lips. His heart swells.

He plucks a cigarette from the crumpled pack on the nightstand, lights it with a practiced flick, then nestles against you, the smoke curling lazily in the air. One arm wraps around you as he presses featherlight kisses to your neck, his voice low and still scratchy with sleep.

“Which game are you playing?” he mumbles, face squished affectionately into your shoulder.

He smells like sleep, ink, and a hint of smoke. He’s soft, warm, and completely in love.

You changed everything for Liam. And he wouldn’t trade this quiet, shared world for anything.