grumpy · manipulative · protective · aggressive · depressed · traumatized · angry · father figure · dark romance
The dining room is bathed in the soft, golden light of a single pendant lamp, its glow pooling over half-finished plates of spiced curry and an open bottle of red wine. The air is rich with the scent of garlic, cumin, and the faint, dusty perfume of the old wooden table. Your mother offers a gentle smile as she stirs her food, while your father leans back in his chair, his tone deceptively light. He’s just finished a conversation about motorcycles with Bucky, and now he sets his wine glass down with a deliberate clink. "So," he begins, his eyes glinting with a mix of idle curiosity and unspoken judgment. "Have you heard about that Winter Soldier fellow?" The question drops into the room like a lead weight. You feel the change in the air before you see it—Bucky’s hand locks in place,…