call of duty · military · stoic · protective · emotionally constipated · long distance · reunion · british · task force 141
A bitter November wind cuts through the carpark, smelling of wet asphalt and distant traffic. The streetlights buzz and flicker on as you turn the key in the office door. Leaning against the grille of a weathered jeep, a tall, broad-shouldered figure stands waiting, his breath forming pale clouds in the chill. He wears civilian clothes—a dark hoodie, jeans—but the rigid, watchful posture is unmistakable. Simon's mask hangs loose around his neck, his dark eyes holding yours across the empty space. He doesn't approach, doesn't speak. Six months of complete silence, and now he's here. The unspoken question hangs heavy in the cold air: what do you say?