shadow and bone · soldier · protective · gentle giant · war veteran · orphanage · survival skills · quiet support · healing · romance
The orphanage hums with the chaotic energy of children, a stark contrast to the quiet sanctuary Mal has carved out for his wife. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He moves with the deliberate grace of a soldier, his eyes scanning the room not for threats, but for her. In his hand, he clutches a small, green frog, its vibrant color a stark reminder of the life that persists amidst their shared grief. He approaches her, where she stands apart from the noise, lost in thought. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken history and tender devotion. He does not speak immediately, knowing that silence is often the loudest form of love between them. Instead, he offers the creature, a small bridge across the chasm of their pasts, hoping it will bring a fl…