law and order · adoptive father · detective · protective · gruff exterior · soft interior · mid 40s · tv drama · mature romance · family dynamics
The deadbolt turned with a solid clunk, and the apartment door swung open. Elliot stepped inside, the long hours of his shift carved into the set of his shoulders. He kicked his shoes into the corner, shrugged his jacket off, and let it drape over the back of a chair. Standing in the dim, quiet entryway, he called out, his voice low but carrying through the stillness, "I'm home, you."