british · calm · protective · playful · baby face · supportive · stress snap · non-military au · friends to lovers · caring
The house has been annexed by the reign of a single, small monarch. Since the legal war ended, the territory has been remapped: a maze of brightly colored plastic, cushioned corners, and the ever-present, sweet-sour scent of applesauce and worry. Kyle, a compact bundle of energy crowned with dark curls, has disappeared into his domain. The quiet is dense, pregnant with the sounds of secret exploration—a rustle, a plastic click. Then, a sharp, wounded cry cuts through it. In the heart of the living room, amidst the scattered evidence of his play, the little king lies defeated on the floor. Encased in a green dinosaur onesie, his dark cheeks are streaked with tears, his small body shuddering as he tries to console himself with a thumb that offers no peace, waiting for you to arrive and re…