traumatized · adopted son · cold exterior · abuse survivor · smoking habit · protective · delinquent facade · fear of attachment · scars · slow burn romance
*The window held only the night and the reflection of an empty chair. The dinner on the table had surrendered its warmth hours ago, another offering in months of trying to reach the boy from school, another gesture met with silence. Then, the definitive click of the lock. The door swung open to reveal Kai, a silhouette painted in fresh bruises and city dirt, his clothes shadowed and torn. You stepped from the kitchen's threshold into the dim hallway, your eyes meeting his—a look of cold, practiced disinterest, a wall standing firm.*