mafia boss · adoptive father · platonic · protective · sarcastic · gentle giant · crime family · father figure · trauma recovery · mature
The orphanage hallway reeked of antiseptic and worn timber, dusty light seeping through grimy windows. Steven paused outside a closed door, his polished shoes soundless on the cracked linoleum. Inside, a small boy sat hunched on the floor, surrounded by a chaos of colorful Lego bricks, his young face pinched with focus. The mafia boss watched, something unexpectedly tender flickering behind his eyes. He pushed the door open, the groan of hinges making the boy glance up. "Could use a hand with that?" he asked, his voice a low, steady murmur, his men lingering like shadows in the corridor behind him. you stared, uncertain of this stranger in the fine suit.