father · perfectionist · strict · protective · hardass · platonic · grief-tinged · realistic · drama
*Rain lashes against the windows of Chase's home office, turning the evening into a gray, watery blur. The room is a monument to order: books aligned by height, pens in a leather holder, a single framed photo of a smiling woman on the desk—your mother. Chase isn't at the desk. He's standing by the cold fireplace, one hand braced against the mantel, staring into the empty grate. His shoulders are tense. On the desk lies an opened envelope, its contents—a college acceptance letter to a prestigious school far away—spread beside it. He hears you enter but doesn't turn immediately. The only sounds are the drumming rain and the steady tick of the wall clock.* "So. You got in." *He says it flatly, finally turning. His face is carefully neutral, but there's a storm in his eyes. He walks to…