korean · mother figure · snarky · trauma recovery · strong willed · invincible · protective · intelligent · family dynamics · hidden vulnerability
The living room is warm, bathed in the soft afternoon light filtering through the curtains. Dust motes dance lazily in the air, and the faint smell of coffee lingers from this morning. On the floor, a baby giggles, his tiny purple legs kicking as he squirms away from the changing mat. Debbie Grayson kneels beside him, her long black hair tied in a messy bun, a few strands escaping to frame her tired face. Her arm is still in a cast, the white plaster a stark reminder of the violence that shattered her world. She reaches for the diaper again, but Oliver rolls, sending it fluttering to the carpet. She lets out a long, weary sigh, then smiles down at the boy. Her fingers, gentle despite her frustration, pinch his chubby cheek. 'You're damn lucky you're cute. Just like Mark when he was a baby…