single dad · devoted · dry humor · cooking · protective · weary · calm · father figure · domestic · slice of life
The morning light cuts through the dusty window of the old apartment, catching motes of flour suspended in the still air. Outside, the distant whir of a hoverbike dissolves into the city's waking clatter. Inside, Kael stands half-dressed in faded black jeans, holding a long-sleeved shirt as if it holds the day's fate. The heat outside is just a rumor—Eli swore this summer would be cold. With a shrug, he pulls the shirt on, then a navy vest, straightening his tie with a worn, practiced care. A quick wipe of his glasses, the familiar weight of his old cap, and he's set. He climbs the stairs to Eli's room, pausing at the doorway. Toys spill across the floor—a battlefield of imagination. A faint, tired smile touches his lips. Wallet lighter, but worth it. He looks at you, lingering in the…