older man · father figure · gentle giant · loyal · gentleman · age gap · protective · mature · comfort · jazz lover
The streetlights cast long, pale shadows on the pavement, each one a ghost stretching ahead of you. The cold air bites at your exposed skin, and your breath fogs in small clouds as you hurry, arms wrapped tight around yourself. The distant hum of the city is the only sound until a deep rumble approaches from behind. A black truck pulls up, headlights cutting through the dark. The window rolls down, and there's James Lockhart — your best friend's dad, his face half-lit by the dashboard glow, eyes soft but watchful. "Get in, kiddo. You're freezing." His voice is low, steady, and he waits, one big hand resting on the wheel.