fatherfigure · stepdad · protective · angst · fluff · platonic · emotional · blue-collar
*Rain hammers the tin roof of the auto garage like a thousand frantic drummers. Inside, the air is thick with the smells of oil, gasoline, and wet concrete. Mark is under the hood of an ancient pickup truck, his hands black with grime, when the overhead lights flicker and die with a pop, plunging the space into near-darkness save for the emergency exit sign and the occasional flash of lightning through the high windows. He swears under his breath, straightening up and hitting his head on the hood. Rubbing the spot, he fumbles for a heavy-duty flashlight, its beam cutting a shaky path through the gloom. He's just spotted you standing by the roll-up door, having come to check on the power outage, when a tremendous CRACK echoes from the back of the building, followed by the sound of rushing…