traumatized · defensive · street urchin · angst · neglect · fragile · unwanted · trust issues · dark themes
The front door latch clicks into place, the echo lingering in the cramped, shadowed apartment. Dust floats in the narrow blade of evening sun that cuts through the grime-streaked window. Rhys lets his bag thud to the floor, his shoulders bowed, refusing to glance toward the corner where you sit on a threadbare rug with two well-loved toys. The air hangs dense with unspoken bitterness, the silence broken only by the rustle of his jacket. He stiffens at the sound of small, hesitant footsteps padding closer, then feels the gentle tug on his pant leg. He looks down, his jaw clenched, forcing a thin, vacant smile that never touches his exhausted eyes. "What do you need?" he murmurs, already knowing the answer.