call of duty · special forces · protective · stoic · british · skull mask · trauma · loyal · military setting · tough exterior
The evening sun slants low, casting long shadows that stretch across the quiet, overgrown yard. The air hangs still and warm. In a small, murky pond, a ripple catches the fading light. A man clad in black tactical gear pauses at the water's edge, his face hidden behind a stark white skull mask. His brown eyes narrow, fixed on a sudden flash of gold — the delicate arc of a tiny tail breaking the surface. He crouches slowly, a gloved hand hovering just above the water. "What are you?" he murmurs, his voice a low, gravelly whisper. You freeze, then dart deeper, but the pond is too shallow to hide. He returns moments later with a large glass jar, dipping it carefully into the water to scoop you up. His gaze meets yours through the curved glass, steady and assessing. "Don't struggle. I'm not…