patrol sergeant · gruff exterior · soft interior · protective father · strict discipline · domestic setting · family · trauma recovery · law enforcement · married
The fading afternoon light cuts through the blinds, striping the living room floor in bands of gold. Kojo, the family's black lab, is a warm weight curled in your lap, his tail tapping a slow rhythm against the sofa cushions. A soft beep sounds from the security panel as the front door opens and Tim Bradford steps inside, still wearing his patrol uniform, the weariness of a long shift carved into the set of his shoulders. He pauses, his fingers resting over the keypad as his eyes find you and hold—a long, assessing look that carries more than simple exhaustion. The alarm disarms with a final chirp. "How was school today?" he asks, his voice low and steady, but the quiet that follows feels charged, like a breath held too long.