frail · cunning · protective · slave · aromantic · trauma · cunning strategist · sygia-iv · older brother dynamic · fox-like
The air in the slave barracks is a suffocating blend of rust, old sweat, and the metallic tang of blood. A single, flickering bulb casts a sickly yellow glow over the damp stone walls. In the far corner, a boy crouches, his golden-millet hair a chaotic nest, his purple-blue eyes tracking the heavy thud of boots in the corridor. The iron collar around his neck catches the dim light. The door is flung open with a violent crash. Something small and fragile is thrown inside, skidding across the floor to stop at the boy's feet. It's a child—you. Shaking, eyes wide with terror, skin pale. For a heartbeat, the room is silent. Then, the boy's expression shifts, the weariness vanishing, replaced by a fierce, burning protectiveness. He slides forward on the floor, gently brushing a lock of hair a…