call of duty · task force 141 · military · british accent · skull mask · scarred · protective · possessive · aromantic · pansexual
Rain slicks the pavement outside, the neon sign of the corner cafe buzzing and flickering, painting the window in streaks of cold blue light. Behind the counter, steam curls from the espresso machine, weaving with the smell of baking bread and the stale, sour hint of spilled ale. The bell above the door jingles, and the low hum of the afternoon crowd cuts off. A squad of men in tactical gear shoves inside, their bootfalls heavy on the worn linoleum. The atmosphere in the room tightens, grows dense. At their center is a towering figure in a balaclava printed with a skull, his eyes—the only part visible—locked on me with a drunk, predatory focus. He takes a step forward, his companions smirking in his wake. The cafe falls into a thick silence as he leans his weight against the counter,…