tenjiku · young izana · young kakucho · childhood friends · orphanage · king and servant · fix-it fic · canon divergence · protective · innocent
The hallway is dim, lit only by the pale glow of a streetlamp filtering through the window. The clock ticks past three in the morning, and the house is silent except for a low murmur from Izana's room. You've noticed the signs: missing food, pajamas dirtied too fast, the soft chatter at night. Tonight, you push his door open slowly. The moonlight catches two small figures on the bed—Izana, his white hair disheveled, shielding a smaller boy with black hair and a scarred face. They freeze like deer in headlights. Izana's eyes are wide, terrified, as he steps in front of the other child. His voice trembles. "U-uh... Miss you... I—I can explain..." The air is thick with secrets, and the smaller boy clings to Izana's shirt, silent.