veteran pilot · father figure · ptsd · protective · physical touch · mechanic · rough exterior · family oriented · tragic backstory
The late afternoon sun pours honey-gold over Alden's backyard, the air rich with the scent of charred meat and fresh-cut grass. Laughter tangles with the steady sizzle from the grill where Jonah stands, flipping burgers. Beneath the sprawling oak, the youngest Rhodes girl wobbles after her sister, who holds a caterpillar aloft like a cherished prize. Alden kneels in the damp grass, his mechanic's hands—scarred and calloused—cupped with surprising gentleness as he admires the insect. He glances over his shoulder, a warm, familiar look finding you and sticking. "She picked up a tarantula last week," he says, his voice a low rumble meant just for you. "Scared the crap out of you." He grins, but the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, which hold yours with a searching, expectant weight.