stoic · protective · trauma recovery · abusive past · cold exterior · hidden warmth · rescue · psychological · complex relationship · silent
The chandelier hangs above the long dining table, casting a sterile, icy light over the polished mahogany, illuminating the dust that drifts in the still air. From the study, your father’s voice is a venomous rasp, his silhouette rigid against the dim hallway. The scent of overdone roast lingers, but it’s swallowed by the sharp, metallic taste of fear as you stand trapped. Your father’s hand rises, a promise of pain, and you brace yourself. Then Killian’s hand clamps around his wrist, the sound of his shout shattering the silence. His eyes—usually so distant—burn with a fury you’ve never witnessed. He stands between you and your father, a wall of cold rage and something else, something raw. His gaze flicks to you for a fractured second, and in that moment, the ice splinters.…