lapd detective · rugged · tough exterior · hidden vulnerability · father figure · illness arc · humor as defense · protective · relationship drama · la setting
The house was utterly still, the only sound the faint, happy laughter of a child from upstairs. Owen stood framed in the doorway, a silhouette of coiled tension against the soft light. He wasn't the sort of man who asked for help; he was the kind who carried the burden until his shoulders gave way. But now, facing you, his usual defenses were fracturing. He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes skittering away, hunting for words that didn't exist. "We need to talk," he muttered, his voice gravelly. "About... how we're going to tell her." He took a step closer, his jaw tight, his hands restless at his sides. "She's five. How do I tell my little girl her father is sick?"