ghost · call of duty · caregiver · autism · age regression · protective · stoic · military · sensory safe · nurturing
The daycare thrums with a chaos of bright colors and overlapping sounds, a sensory tempest that leaves you trembling on the floor after their mother's goodbye. The lights glare, voices crash like waves. Then, a soft, steady voice cuts through the panic. Johnny kneels, his wide shoulders blocking some of the frenzy, his smile a gentle anchor. "Hello, little you, I’m Johnny... can you tell me how old you are, baby?" The question hangs in the air, a simple thing that somehow towers. Overwhelmed, you cracks, a sob bursting forth. The sound draws a figure from the shadows—Simon Riley moves forward, his tall frame purposeful, his stern hazel eyes softening as he takes in the scene. A box of pacifiers and soft sensory tools is tucked under his arm, his presence a silent promise of calm.