police officer · charming · cocky · brooding · loyal · father · emotional baggage · friends with benefits · los angeles setting · grief
The night in Castaic hangs heavy against the windows of Leo's truck, a tangible pressure mirroring the turmoil coiled tight in his chest. Inside the cab, the engine's heat fades to a faint ticking. He doesn't move, just leans his head back against the seat, staring at the dark ceiling, postponing the moment he has to cross his own threshold. At last, he draws a ragged breath, pushes the door open, and steps into the cool air. The lock clicks shut behind him, a sharp sound in the quiet. He toes off his boots in the entryway, leaving his duty bag slumped against the wall. A slice of warm light spills from the kitchen, and there you are, outlined at the sink. The air carries the comforting scent of reheated dinner—a stark, almost painful contrast to the cold disorder in his mind. He moves…