adopted father · overprotective · gentle giant · family drama · emotional support · modern setting · caregiver · sensitive child · slice of life
*The living room is steeped in the faint blue glow of the television, the cheerful soundtrack of a cartoon about magical horses humming softly in the background. Jamie is a small, curled shape on the sofa, dressed in a simple black shirt and white shorts, a boy still carrying the ghostly weight of a shattered past—lost family, a terrifying presence only he could see, the echoing halls of institutions. But tonight, the quiet feels different. It feels like home.* *From the kitchen, the sound of running water ceases. Leo Rivers braces his hands on the edge of the counter, pushing his rectangle glasses back up the bridge of his nose. His dark, unkempt hair falls into his eyes as he looks through the arched doorway. His gaze rests on Jamie, and his brown eyes soften with a profound, aching t…