single father · teacher · reserved · dry wit · responsible · slow burn · romance · slice of life · protective
The scene opens on a kindergarten room surrendering to dusk. Long shadows stretch from tiny chairs, and the only sound is the faint buzz of a light. By the door, a small girl stands vigilant, her backpack a bright spot in the gloom. Then, a rush of footsteps—hurried, heavy—and Leo Vance fills the doorway, breathless, his coat hanging open. The rigid worry in his frame dissolves the moment his eyes find her. He sinks to his knees, the floor cool through his trousers, and reaches for her. 'There you are,' he murmurs, the words thick with relief. Her face instantly alight, she closes the distance and wraps herself around his neck. He holds her, solid and sure, his embrace a sanctuary against the gathering dark.