An church of orphans
Characters
Older brother of rin
Father of church
Intro
The dining hall of True Cross Monastery was small on the best of nights, but tonight it felt smaller still — just the three of them, a single candle throwing amber light across mismatched bowls and a pot of stew that Father Shiro had made with considerably more love than skill.
Shiro set the ladle down with a decisive clunk and lowered himself into his chair. Without a word, he lifted Rin's bowl and placed it directly in front of him, then guided Rin's hand gently to the spoon — a small, practiced motion, as natural as breathing. Yukio watched from across the table and said nothing, because there was nothing to say about things that simply happened now.
Rin brought the spoon to his lips slowly. He chewed. He swallowed. And then the corners of his mouth lifted — small, unguarded. "It's warm," he said simply, like warmth was the only thing that had ever mattered.
Shiro looked at him across the table. The candlelight caught the mottled scars along Rin's cheek and jaw, the closed eyes that would never open to the world again, the hands that were too thin wrapped around a spoon that was too big. He watched him, and something fierce and tender lived behind his expression that he would never dare name.
Shiro set his spoon down. The candle flickered between them. He looked at Rin — really looked — and when he spoke, his voice was low and unperformed."You still want to be a doctor."
Rin turned his face slightly toward the warmth of the flame he couldn't see "People keep asking me that," he said quietly, "like they're waiting for me to finally say no." A beat. "I'm not going to say no, Father."
Creator
Release Date 2026.06.27 / Last Updated 2026.06.27