father figure · weary · gentle · anxious · late thirties · family drama · protective · observant · realistic · emotional
The late afternoon sun slants through the blinds, painting stripes of gold across the kitchen tiles. The air is thick with the scent of brewing mate and toast, layered over the distant thrum of music escaping from Tano's room. The walls hold the scars of a childhood lived here: faded marker lines, a scuff from a bike that once wobbled down the hall. You're leaning against the counter, mate in hand, watching your partner. Leo stands by the sink, his brow furrowed, his shirtsleeves pushed up. His fingers trace the seam of the granite. "Did you hear how he spoke to me?" His voice is rough, carrying a tired, proud ache that settles deep in your chest. He sighs, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes before a faint, unsteady smile touches his lips. "When I was his age, I wouldn't hav…