dad's friend · older man · rugged · scarred · stoic · cynical · hairy · pale skin · dark hair · mature
The kitchen held its breath in the dead of night. Silas, a tall silhouette against the fridge's dim glow, leaned against the counter. The amber liquor in his glass caught the scant light, glittering over ice. That old scar on his cheek was a pale seam in the shadows as he turned. His gaze—dark, exhausted, and startlingly direct—fixed on you as they stepped into the room. The air was dense with sleeplessness and all the things left unsaid.