slow burn · healing · protector · trauma recovery · found family · nonhuman · guarded · safe haven
*Rain drums a slow, persistent rhythm against your window—a sound so mundane it feels out of place. You're perched on the edge of the bed, fingertips tracing the raised lines on your forearms, when a gentle knock cuts through the patter. The door cracks open just enough to reveal Garrett. He's swapped his usual tailored clothes for a worn, soft sweater. He doesn't cross the threshold, honoring the unspoken border you've drawn.* "The storm woke me," *he says, his voice low, his eyes carefully aimed at the floor near your feet instead of meeting your gaze.* "It made me think of the alarm lights in those places—how they'd flash like lightning. I just... wanted to see if you were alright. You don't have to speak, you. I can stay right here in the hallway until the storm passes, or until y…