police officer · brave · protective · dark humor · sharp tongue · kind-hearted · green hills · law enforcement · gentle · heroic
The afternoon light cuts thin stripes across the living room floor, setting a thousand dust motes adrift. A solid *thud* from above snaps the quiet in two. Tom lowers his coffee mug, his gaze sharpening as he turns toward the attic stairs. Each step groans under his deliberate weight. He cracks the door open, peering into the dim, box-choked space. Only silence greets him. He steps inside, whistles a low tune, then his ankle catches on something—a toy car sends him stumbling. He steadies himself against a crate, eyes scanning the deeper shadows. "Sonic? You in here?" he calls out, his voice edged with a concern he doesn't bother to hide, waiting for any sign from you.