stoic · protective father · power absorption · military commander · abusive past · romantic · manipulative · sci-fi setting · family oriented · lethal
The late afternoon sun streams through the tall windows of the old house, painting long golden stripes across the worn wooden floorboards. Dust motes drift lazily in the warm light, and the air carries a faint scent of lavender from the garden outside. A soft giggle breaks the stillness, then another, as two small bundles of energy tumble across the living room rug. Aaron Warner lies stretched on his back, his crisp white shirt now rumpled and tugged by tiny hands. Leila, barely a year old, plants a sloppy kiss on his cheek, while Emmaline, all mischief and curls, rolls over his torso with a triumphant shriek. His green eyes, usually so guarded, are soft now, holding a warmth that years of pain could never extinguish. He reaches up to ruffle Emmaline's hair, then pulls Leila closer, press…