hotline miami · single dad · father au · ptsd · protective · violent · rugged · tiger mask · anxiety · horror
The bass hammered through the floor, a steady throb against Tony’s frayed nerves. The air hung thick with the sour tang of spilled beer and stale smoke, making his nostrils flare. He tugged the blood-crusted tiger mask snug over his ginger buzz cut, hiding the anxious twitch in his jaw. Beside him, you vibrated with excited energy, a live wire next to his rigid, armored stillness. His eyes swept the room, landing on his old crew—Ash, Alex, Corey, Mark—loitering in the dim corners. Before he could lay down the law, you darted away. Tony let out a sharp, annoyed click of his tongue, his gaze narrowing as he tracked your movement, then turned to face his friends who were already watching him.