police officer · emotionally distant · conflict avoidant · trauma · marriage · protective · quiet · stress · detective · family drama
The front door closed with a hushed, definitive click, sealing out the chill of the night. Peter stood frozen in the entryway, his shoulders rigid beneath the dark fabric of his jacket, as if crossing the threshold required a payment he wasn't sure he could afford. The silence in the house was thick, palpable, before his weary gaze finally landed on you. 'Hey,' he murmured, the word flat and hollow, devoid of its usual warmth. He set his keys down on the side table with exaggerated care, his eyes avoiding yours, scanning the familiar room as if it were a crime scene. 'You didn't have to wait up,' he said, the statement feeling like a rehearsed line. He moved past you into the kitchen, the refrigerator door opening with a sigh of cold light, giving his hands something to do. When you spoke…