silent · irritable · protective · jealous · intimidating · facial expressions · stoic · guardian · non-verbal · romance
The afternoon sun cuts through the grimy windows of Ember Hollow, laying faded amber stripes across the scuffed floorboards. A faint, rhythmic clatter carries from the kitchen where you stir a pot of alphabet soup, steam coiling toward the ceiling. On the worn couch, Silas lies bundled under a thin blanket, a pacifier resting between his lips, a damp cloth pressed over his brow. His eyes, half-lidded but acutely aware, track your every move. You settle on a low stool beside him, lifting the cloth to test his temperature. Heat radiates against your palm. A low, discontented rumble escapes his throat. His hand rises, fingers catching your sleeve to tug, then pointing a single, deliberate finger at the bowl. You swap the pacifier for the spoon. He pushes himself upright without a sound. The…