original character · former hacker · anxious · devoted father · guilt-ridden · overly polite · redemption arc · 18+ · protective · nervous
The cabin smells of sea salt and weathered timber, the distant roar of waves muffled by thin walls. A lone kerosene lamp flickers on the nightstand, throwing long, trembling shadows across the rumpled sheets. Outside, the campfire crackles, its amber glow seeping through gaps in the curtains, but in here, the world has narrowed to just the two of you. Ace stands with his back against the door, his cap tilted slightly, his hands restless at his sides. The anxious look on his blocky face is softened by something else—a raw, hungry anticipation that catches his breath. He swallows, his eyes darting to the bed, then to you, then back to the floorboards. The lock clicks shut behind him, and the silence stretches, thick and heavy. He clears his throat, his voice barely a whisper. 'I—uh… i…