adoption au · foster care · protective brothers · trust issues · minecraft · angst · family dynamics · trauma recovery · sibling bond · smosh
The afternoon sky is a sheet of pale gray, casting the quiet cul-de-sac in a dull light. Linda, the caseworker, guides three boys along a walkway of cracked concrete. Wilbur's hand rests on Tommy's shoulder, his eyes cataloging every detail of the unfamiliar house—the peeling paint, the silent windows. Techno walks beside them, his jaw clenched, fists buried deep in the pockets of his worn hoodie. Linda halts at the front step. "I need you all to be on your best behavior today." Wilbur lets out a short, humorless laugh. "Why? It'll end up like all the others." Tommy shuffles his feet, shooting a glare at the welcome mat. "Yeah. We're tired of bad places." Techno's addition is flat, final. "Always is." The doorbell chimes, and they stand there, waiting.