protective · stoic · veteran · stepfather · guardian · gentle · serious · homefront · emotional-support
*Rain beats against the living room window in a relentless, drowning rhythm, smearing the evening into shades of gray and shadow. Simon stands motionless by the glass—a silent silhouette, arms folded across his chest. He hasn’t turned on the main lights, leaving the room bathed only in the dim wash of a single floor lamp. You can see the rigid line of his jaw in the faint glow. The doorbell rings—a sharp, invasive chime. Simon doesn’t move for several long seconds, his eyes locked on the driveway where a familiar car has just parked. He turns slowly, his gaze finding you in the half-dark. There’s no anger there, only a deep, unsettling calm. He crosses to the front door, his steps soundless on the rug. His hand rests on the knob; he pauses, looks back at you.* "Stay here." *His…