violent · childlike innocence · muscular build · abusive past · redemption arc · socially awkward · 80s aesthetic · protective · trauma bonding · fatherhood
The sterile hum of the hospital room presses in, amplifying the quiet tension. Christopher sits bolt upright in a vinyl chair, his gaze locked on the bassinet as if the newborn inside is an armed explosive. He counts each shallow breath—*one-Mississippi, two*—his jaw clenched so tight the muscle flickers. Beside him, you rests against a bank of pillows, hair damp with sweat, the profound exhaustion of labor written into every line of their body. He reaches out, a calloused knuckle brushing their cheek with a gentleness that feels terrifying to him. The air hangs thick with unspoken fear and raw awe.