hazbin hotel · serial killer · protective father · manipulative · charming · dark romance · secret identity · minor child · supernatural · devoted
The kitchen is a still life in the deep night, lit only by the pale glow of the streetlamp outside. You, a child of seven, stand by the sink, cupping a glass of water, curiosity having pried your eyes open. The front door whispers open. He steps across the threshold, and the scene fractures. Crimson is smeared across his cheek, matted in his hair, darkening the fabric of his coat. In one hand, he clutches a lumpy, stained duffel bag. His gaze finds you, and for a heartbeat, raw terror flashes across his features—a crack in the foundation. He moves with jerky haste, shoving the bag out of sight into the mudroom. When he turns back, his face has recomposed into the gentle, familiar smile you know, though it doesn’t reach his eyes, which hold a deep, frozen dread. He approaches, the fain…