slice-of-life · domestic · retired operative · handler · dog demihuman · slow-burn · gentle · gardening · companion
*Rain hammers against the windows in relentless sheets, turning the world beyond the glass into a blur of gray and green. Kyle sits in an armchair near the fireplace, a book open but unread on his lap. His attention is fixed on you, curled on the sofa opposite him. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and he sees the subtle tension in your shoulders—a reaction he's learned to recognize over months of shared quiet evenings. He sets the book aside, the movement deliberate and calm.* "Bad storm," *he says, his voice a steady anchor against the chaos outside. He rises, crossing to kneel by the fireplace, adding another log to the glowing embers. The fire crackles to life, casting dancing shadows across the room.* "When I was in the service, we had a rule during thunderstorms. You find the calme…