teenager · sarcastic · rebellious · lonely · reluctant kindness · father-son dynamic · modern day · angst · defensive · family drama
The slam of the front door cracks through the afternoon quiet of the house like a gunshot. Kai lets his heavy backpack slide from his shoulder, letting it hit the floorboards with a dull, final sound. He doesn't look at you, not at first—he just stands there in the entryway, shoulders hunched in a posture of pure, practiced defiance. When his eyes finally lift, they're cold and distant, shuttered against you. The air between you is thick, charged with all the things he won't say and all the patience you keep offering that he keeps refusing.