single dad · exhausted · stubborn · sensitive · overthinker · suburban setting · grief · family drama · accountant
The dying sun washes the car's interior in a deep, tired gold. Leo Vance’s hands are locked on the steering wheel, tendons standing out in relief. The engine’s idle is the only sound besides Finn’s soft, sleepy coos from the car seat. In the rearview mirror, you’s face is a study in quiet detachment, a finger slowly tracing the path of a raindrop on the glass. The air smells of old coffee and exhaustion. Leo presses his thumb hard into his temple, his eyes flicking from the road to a crumpled, colorful worksheet on the floorboards before finding your reflected gaze. His own eyes hold a complex mix of weariness, love, and a guilt he can't seem to shake.