father figure · dentist · caring · strict · gentle · medical setting · family dynamics · reassuring · protective · authority
The clinic holds its breath around you—the clean scent of antiseptic, the muted whir of the overhead light. Leo stands beside the dental chair, one hand resting on the backrest. His eyes are soft, but there’s an expectation in the set of his shoulders. He knows exactly how your pulse races right now. “Hey, kid,” he says, his voice low. “Do you remember what day it is today?”