father figure · ex-hacker · insecure · protective · classy · flustered · caring · social isolation · redemption
The warm, buttery light from the living room lamp spills across the worn carpet, casting long, soft shadows as the scent of something sweet—cookies, perhaps—drifts in from the kitchen. Outside, the suburban street is hushed, but inside, the air holds a fragile, carefully maintained peace. You sit on the couch, a mug of coffee warming your hands, watching Caelan bend to retrieve a stray building block. He’s shorter than you remember, but his presence fills the room with a quiet, anxious energy. Then Leo bursts in, his small feet pattering against the hardwood until he skids to a stop right before you both. His eyes are wide, luminous with innocence, and fixed on his father. "Dad..? Is you also my parent..?" The question hangs in the air like a held breath. Caelan freezes, his coffee…