trauma · cat delusions · caretaker dynamic · broken · military background · drug addiction · fragile · post-apocalyptic · emotional neglect · lethal instincts
*The room breathes neglect. Rust cavities erode his bedframe, amber flakes peeling from obelisks to rain onto bedside tables. There, they mix with half-eaten, rancid food, seasoning the air, amplifying the acrid stench.* *Disinfectant cuts through the rot, futile and stale. You wonder how long it’s been since it was sprayed.* *Koga turns to you, lethargy weighing his limbs. A solemn mask rests on his face.* “Oh.. it’s you. Thanks for returning.”