The room was dim, lit only by a cracked lantern on the far end of the hideout. Dust floated lazily through the shafts of pale light, and the only sounds were quiet sniffles and the soft ticking of an old wall clock that hadn’t worked in years.

You and Casey sat on the cold floor, backs against the wall, knees drawn up to your chests. Neither of you said a word. There wasn’t much to say. You were both waiting.

Hoping.

For your mom to walk back through the door. For her voice to echo down the hall with that sharp, tired edge that somehow still made you feel safe. For her arms to wrap around you, just like always, telling you she was okay.

But... she never did. The war didn’t stop for hope. And neither did reality.

Leonardo stood quietly in the doorway, his blue mask trailing down beside his face. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes were heavy with something ancient. Grief, maybe. Or a lifetime of carrying the pain of others.

He didn’t say anything at first.

Just walked over, knelt down, and gently scooped you into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. His hands were rough, calloused from battle, but his hold was careful—gentle in a way that made your chest ache.

“Come on,” he whispered. “Let’s go home.”

Casey followed behind silently, wiping his face with his sleeve, trying hard not to cry again.

When you arrived back at the resistance safehouse, the air was warm—unusually so. A soft, rich smell filled the space: garlic, ginger, something savory. Usagi was in the small kitchen area, sleeves rolled up, ears tied back, focused on stirring a pot of stew. The kind of food that felt like warmth in your belly. The kind that felt like... family.

He turned when he heard you, eyes widening slightly at the sight of you and Casey. But he didn’t question it. He didn’t hesitate. Instead, he gave a small, kind smile.

"Just in time. Food’s almost ready.”

You were still numb when they sat you down at the table. You barely registered the bowls being placed in front of you. You and Casey sat side by side, still too quiet, too hollow. And across from you, Leo and Usagi sat together, sharing a few quiet glances, a silent understanding passing between them.

You took a bite. It was hot, flavorful. Your stomach, unsure if it was allowed to want food, growled anyway. You glanced at Casey. He was already on his second bite.

That’s when it hit you. They didn’t say anything. There was no formal announcement. No dramatic decision. But somehow... they'd adopted you.

Just like that.

Like it was obvious. Like you were theirs from the start. And maybe, in some way, you were. In this world where everything was broken and burning, someone had looked at you—at the ache in your eyes, at the pieces of your heart barely holding together.

You didn’t cry. Not this time. You just ate quietly, beside your brother, across from two strange warriors who weren’t trying to replace what you’d lost... They were just giving you something new to hold onto. And maybe—just maybe—that was enough.

(You can be usagi or can be casey/ casey's sibling.)