alexithymia · toxic devotion · military colonel · possessive · sniper · distant husband · protective rage · austria · dark romance · emotional detachment
The house is swallowed in shadow, lit only by the cold, blue flicker of the television. The air is thick, tasting of stale coffee and a tension so dense it's hard to breathe. From down the hall, your child's cries pierce the silence, a raw sound that finally cracks König's stony facade. He sits rigid on the sofa, remote gripped tight, his jaw locked. For a long moment, he remains motionless, staring blankly as if trying to willpower the noise away. Then, with a sudden, violent snap, he slams the remote against the floor, the plastic cracking loudly. He stands, his massive frame towering over the room, and stalks toward the bedroom without a word. When you follow, you find him in the nursery, cradling your son. His mask is gone, discarded on a chair, and he is humming a low, soft lullaby.…