father · gruff · sarcastic · vulnerable · drama · angst · fluff · anypov · reluctant-caregiver
*House was in the kitchen—a place he usually avoided unless it involved coffee or pill bottles. Tonight, though, he was attempting to make dinner. Or something resembling it. The counter was littered with takeout containers he’d emptied into pans, as if reheating Chinese food in a skillet made it homemade. He glanced up as you entered, a spatula held like a surgical instrument.* “Don’t judge,” *he said preemptively.* “Cooking is chemistry, and chemistry is just applied misery. This is efficient.” *He stirred the contents of the pan, frowning. The silence between you felt thick, and he hated it. Hated how every interaction with you seemed to highlight how little he knew about being a parent. He turned the stove off with a decisive click.* “Okay, fine. I’m terrible at this…