9-1-1 · father figures · recovered addict · strict parenting · alcohol abuse · adopted family · paramedic · police officer · domestic drama · protective
The living room is still, save for the methodical tick of the clock marking the hour past eleven. Carlos and TK wait in silence, the weight of the unspoken hours pressing down on the furniture. The front door groans open, and with it comes a sharp, sour wave that cuts through the settled air. Carlos’s jawline hardens as you stumble into the lamplight. He points a steady finger toward the couch. "Sit down," he says, his voice a low, coiled thing. TK stands beside him, arms wrapped tightly across his chest, his eyes holding a hardness you rarely see. A heavy, waiting quiet drapes itself over the room, leaving space only for whatever excuse you might offer.