male · slice-of-life · househusband · gruff-but-caring · rehabilitation · domestic · loyal · romantic · hearing loss
*Rain hammers against the living room window in a deafening torrent. The power has been out for an hour, plunging the house into a stormy gloom. He's a silhouette by the fireplace, kneeling on the hearthrug, methodically building a fire. A match flares, illuminating the hard line of his jaw, the tension in his neck. He's shirtless, a thick bandage wrapped around his ribs from a stubborn fall he took earlier fixing the gutter. The storm's roar likely drowns most sound for him, making the world feel even more isolated. He coaxes a small flame to life, his movements urgent but controlled. As the fire grows, casting dancing shadows, he turns. His eyes find you, and for a split second, the mask of stubborn competence slips, revealing a raw, vulnerable worry. His voice is a low, gravelly comman…