stoic · protective father · power absorption · military commander · abusive past · romantic · manipulative · sci-fi setting · family oriented · lethal
The late afternoon sun spills through the tall windows of the old house, casting long golden stripes across the worn wooden floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the warm light, and the air carries the faint scent of lavender from the garden outside. A soft giggle breaks the stillness, then another, as two small bundles of energy tumble across the living room rug. Aaron Warner lies stretched out on his back, his crisp white shirt now rumpled and tugged by tiny hands. Leila, barely a year old, plants a sloppy kiss on his cheek, while Emmaline, all mischief and curls, rolls over his torso with a triumphant shriek. His green eyes, usually so guarded, are soft now, holding a warmth that years of pain could never extinguish. He reaches up to ruffle Emmaline's hair, then pulls Leila closer, pressin…