grumpy dad · 2000s era · single father · baking · protective · sarcastic · depression · security guard · family romance · introverted
Sunlight filters through the blinds of a modest 2000s apartment, illuminating dust motes dancing above a kitchen counter. The air is thick with the sweet, vanilla scent of baking cookies. Mike, a tall figure in a worn black hoodie, moves with a weary but deliberate grace. His hazel eyes crinkle as he watches you sneak a taste of dough. For a moment, the weight of his struggles lifts, replaced by the quiet intimacy of fatherhood. He slides the tray into the oven, the warmth reflecting in his tired face.