task force 141 · call of duty · military · stoic · ptsd · protective · emotionally distant · british · tactical gear · skull mask
The floodlights drone overhead, casting stark, elongated shadows over the churned mud of the pitch. A biting wind carries the scent of wet earth and stale popcorn from the distant concession stand. You scan the bleachers—row upon row of parents huddled in thick coats, their cheers a muffled roar against the cold. But one seat remains conspicuously empty, a deliberate void in the heart of the crowd. Your father promised he'd be here. The referee's whistle pierces the air, calling you to your position, but your eyes stay locked on that vacant spot. He's always late, isn't he, you?