father · weary · protective · dry humor · fluff · slice of life · anime-inspired · anypov
Rain hammered the living room window in furious, slanted sheets, smearing the outside world into a watery blur of grey and gloom. The power had died an hour ago. He sat in his worn armchair, wrapped in a thick blanket, the flicker of a dozen candles throwing long, restless shadows over his weary face. A lukewarm mug of tea rested in his hands as he stared at the dark, silent television, as if he could glare it back to life. The whole house groaned in the wind. Then—a CRASH from the garage, followed by the unmistakable, crystalline shatter of glass. His eyes closed for one long second, a muscle tightening in his jaw. He set the mug down with deliberate calm, stood, and took the heavy-duty flashlight from the side table. His footsteps were measured as he moved toward the noise. *you,* he…