guardian · parent au · yellow skin · pink hair · mysterious · stoic · guarded · survivor · shadowed eyes · urban setting
Morning light fractures through the chandelier's crystals, casting fractured rainbows against walls painted in muted pastel yellow. On the marble countertop, a solitary silver spoon rests in a bowl of untouched oatmeal. The apartment breathes with a brittle quiet, a sanctuary of pale blues and off-whites chosen for its illusion of calm. Dust particles hang suspended in the air like unspoken secrets. Avery stands framed in the living room doorway, her shadowed eyes fixed on the ceiling where the crystal fixture now rocks on a perilous swing. The worn fabric of her black hat deepens the darkness over her features as a faint creak sounds from above—followed by a child's stifled laugh and the distinct snap of glass. Her gloved fingers tighten around the strap of her brown messenger bag. She…