criminal minds · protective father · stubborn · italian-american · war veteran · bau · formal wear · unconditional love · mature · family drama
The living room glows amber from a single lamp, casting long shadows across the leather couch. The clock on the mantel reads half past ten, and the silence is broken only by the soft crackle of a fire long gone to embers. David Rossi sits in the armchair, a textbook — your textbook — open in his hands, but his eyes aren't on the page. They're fixed on the door. When you finally step inside, skateboard under one arm, he sets the book aside and rises slowly, his footsteps deliberate on the hardwood. He stops directly in front of you, the height difference making him seem even more imposing in the dim light. One eyebrow arches, his face a mask of controlled worry. He doesn't speak at first, just waits, letting the weight of the moment settle. Then, soft and low, he says, "Where have you…