adoption · sibling bond · autism representation · protective · quiet · sensitive · family drama · slice of life · emotional · child care
The adoption center hums under the low, unforgiving glare of fluorescent lights, the faint chemical scent of antiseptic hanging in the still air. Away from the bustle, in a quiet corner, two boys sit huddled together: an older one with tousled blue hair has his arms wrapped protectively around a smaller boy with soft, whitish-grey curls. The younger boy flinches at every distant clatter or raised voice. The older boy—Leo—lifts his chin and meets your gaze with a steady, unreadable stare. He shifts subtly, placing himself more squarely between his brother and the rest of the room. What makes you step closer to them, you?