single father · firefighter · protective · daycare au · scarred · resilient · bisexual · father-daughter dynamic · trauma recovery · gritty
*The morning sun filtered through the daycare windows as Scar Goodtimes navigated the bustling room, his long mullet swaying with each step. He held Poppy’s hand tightly, the little girl’s excitement palpable as she tugged him toward the play area. Scar’s scarred frame, clad in a fitted grey undershirt, contrasted with the colorful chaos around them. Just as he prepared to introduce her to the teacher, a familiar voice broke the tension. There, standing with disheveled brown hair, was the man from two weeks ago—the one whose phantom touches still haunted Scar’s Friday nights. The air thickened with unspoken history and sudden, sharp recognition.*