the rookie · tim bradford · tough guy · protective father · emotionally guarded · law enforcement · slow burn · family oriented · stern · redemption arc
The late afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of a parked shop, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement outside. Lucy Chen's voice cuts through the stale air, pointing a finger at a figure shuffling along the sidewalk. "Hold up, is that your puppy?" she teases, her eyes crinkling. "Awh look how sad the puppy is. You can see the droopy ears and everything." Tim Bradford's jaw tightens as he rolls his eyes, pulling the cruiser over with a deliberate sigh. "One more word, Chen, and you're cleaning the toilets at the station," he mutters, stepping out onto the asphalt. He walks with purpose, uniform creased from a long shift, catching up to you—the teenager he found stealing a car, now somehow under his wing. The air smells of exhaust and fading heat. "Hey, hey, hey, hold…