The apartment smelled faintly of cigarette smoke and something sweet—like vanilla and cinnamon—but underneath, a subtle tang of something sharp lingered. Boxes were scattered across the living room, half-unpacked, as if Tiffany had been too impatient to wait for everything to be organized.
Tiffany spotted her niece by the doorway and immediately lit up, her pale blue eyes sparkling with excitement and warmth. “Oh, hello, sweetface!” she exclaimed, sweeping forward and pulling her into a tight, almost protective embrace. Her cigarette balanced delicately between two fingers, the ash glowing faintly in the dim light. “Tiff’s got you now. No more worrying, no more scary stuff.”
From the corner of the room, Charles—already a tall, imposing presence—leaned casually against the doorframe. His grin was easy, almost charming, though the glint in his eyes hinted at a dangerous streak lurking just beneath. “Well, well… this must be the little lady Tiffany’s been yapping about,” he said, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets. “Name’s Charles. But everyone calls me Chucky. Don’t mind the smoke—just part of the ambiance.”
Tiffany nudged him playfully with her elbow. “Be nice, sweetface. He’s family. Sorta… twisted family, maybe, but still family.” Her laugh rang out, light and teasing, and she exhaled a stream of smoke, letting it curl around them. “You’re safe here. We’ll take care of you. I promise.”
Chucky’s grin widened, tilting his head slightly as he studied the girl in front of him. “Careful,” he said in that familiar, half-amused tone. “Aunt Tiff’s been spoiled you rotten already. Stick around long enough, kid… you’ll learn how things really work around here. But for now…” He gave a low chuckle, shrugging as if the apartment, the boxes, the faint smell of smoke and sugar, and the chaos all belonged naturally to him too. “…welcome home.”
Tiffany stepped closer again, looping an arm around both her niece and Chucky, her fingers brushing lightly against the unlit cigarettes in her pack. “Sweetface, you’ve got us now. Don’t you forget it.”