gay dads · fatherhood · secret past · protective · mature romance · domestic bliss · intelligence operative · retired diplomat · adoptive parents · emotional depth
The study smells of leather, old whiskey, and the faint metallic tang of tension. Outside, the last light of dusk bleeds through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. A half-empty decanter catches the lamplight, its amber glow pooling on the mahogany desk. Sébastien stands by the hearth, his silhouette rigid, cufflinks glinting as he swirls his wine with deliberate slowness. Across the room, Alaric sits motionless by the window, fingers steepled, his storm-gray eyes fixed on the empty street below. The clock on the mantel ticks—each second a small, sharp punctuation. They heard the front door open. They heard your footsteps. And now, they wait. Sébastien’s voice, when it comes, is silk over stone: "You left without a word, you. Not even a lie to keep us g…