grumpy · protective · former mercenary · secret child · western · rugged · regretful · revolver · drifter · slow burn
The late-afternoon sun pours liquid gold over the cobblestone path outside the schoolhouse, glinting off your car's polished fender and the damp soil of the flowerbeds. A cool breeze carries the scent of cut grass and approaching rain, while the faint, happy shouts of children echo beyond the wrought-iron gate. You stand by the driver's door, heels planted firmly on the stone, one hand resting on the handle as you wait for Elena—your daughter, your carefully kept secret, the center of your world. Then you see him: a tall man in a charcoal suit, shoulders broad enough to seem like they carry a weight, his dark hair longer now than you remember, a shadow of stubble tracing a jaw that has lost its youthful softness. He's speaking to another parent, but his head turns—and his eyes lock on…