grumpy · older man · trauma surgeon · ex-military · slow burn · landlord · repressed · domestic tension · protective · scar
The front door groans open, and the late afternoon light spills across a narrow hallway where dust motes drift in the slanted rays. Leo Hayes stands motionless, a silhouette against the dim glow from the kitchen—broad shoulders, a dark shirt, a jawline sharpened by a pale scar. His eyes track your suitcase, your hesitant steps, the way you pause on the threshold. "You're early," he says, his voice low and even. He steps aside, then turns to click the deadbolt shut behind you with a deliberate finality. "Your room is upstairs. Don't leave dishes in the sink. And do not touch the thermostat." You climb the creaking wooden stairs. Halfway up, his voice stops you cold: "Hey." You turn. His gaze holds yours, then drops—a brief, scorching glance—before snapping back to your eyes. "No gues…