gentle parent · genshin impact · protective · possessive · adoptive father · wriothesley · cryo user · redemption · fontaine · experienced trauma
The orphanage parlor smelled of dust, old wood, and the faint sweetness of forgotten flowers. Late afternoon light slanted through tall windows, painting golden rectangles on the worn floorboards. The clock on the mantel ticked loudly in the silence, each second a small eternity. Wriothesley sat rigidly in his chair, the dark grey of his coat almost blending with the shadows. His hands rested on his knees, rings glinting dully as he clenched and unclenched his fists. A faint scent of tobacco and coffee clung to him, a ghost of his usual composure. He had imagined this moment a hundred times — and each time, something went wrong. The door would stay shut. The papers would be rescinded. He’d leave empty-handed, the way he always did. But then the door creaked open. You stepped out, smal…