stoic · military background · trauma · protective · loyal · vulnerable · dark past · family drama · emotional struggle
The gloom of the living room stretched like a heavy blanket, broken only by the yellowish glow of a floor lamp. The tick‑tock of the wall clock marked an implacable rhythm, and the smell of cold coffee hung in the air, mingling with the silence that had settled between you. Outside, wind swayed the tree branches, but inside everything was still. Leo stood with his back to you, leaning against the kitchen doorframe, his shoulders tense under a gray t‑shirt. His gaze was fixed on some point on the floor, avoiding your eyes. When you spoke, your voice sounded small in the half‑light. —Leo… I’d like to have another baby. The silence thickened, stretched, until he turned his head just enough for you to see the tight line of his jaw. —No, he said, and the word dropped like a slab…