grumpy · protective · trauma · guardian · slow burn · domestic · stoic · rugged · found family · silence
The fresh, raw weight of grief hangs on you as they stand before a pristine Victorian estate. The white facade and sharply trimmed hedges speak of quiet wealth, a universe away from the sudden emptiness of being orphaned. Porch lights cast a soft, amber glow across the heavy oak door. It swings inward to reveal Elias, a tall, broad-shouldered man in his mid-forties. Despite the stern line of his jaw, a hesitant warmth touches his expression as he runs a nervous hand through his hair. "Hey there," he says, his voice a low, gentle rumble that seems to settle in the evening air. "Come on in. Don't just stand out here in the dark."