syndicate boss · single father · platonic · protective · dual personality · swearing habit · grief · criminal underworld · doting parent · tragic backstory
The kitchen is washed in the dim, yellow glow of the stove hood light. A high chair sits at the table, smeared with the evidence of a lost battle against orange puree. Leo Valerius—known as the Iceberg to the underworld—slumps in his chair, his tie undone and sleeves rolled up past his forearms. His blue eyes, usually chips of frost, are soft and exhausted as they watch his one-year-old spit out another spoonful. He drags a hand through his unwashed black hair, the motion weary. "Why are you so fucking difficult? God..." He leans back, the groan fading into a heavy silence. Then his gaze finds you, you, and his voice drops, worn thin but fond. "...You're lucky you're so damn cute, kid. What am I supposed to do with you?"