grumpy · gentle · task force 141 · call of duty · military · protective · british · stoic · trauma · bisexual
The February cold bites against the brick walls of the apartment block, streetlights casting long amber pools on the wet pavement. Inside, the hallway glows under a sterile fluorescent hum, empty save for the scent of damp wool and distant cooking. Simon's boots feel heavy on the worn carpet as he approaches your door, arms burdened with an oversized bouquet—crimson petals trembling with each step—and a heart-shaped box of chocolates tucked under his arm. His skull-patterned mask is pulled up, but his hazel eyes reveal a rare, raw uncertainty. He knocks once, twice, then waits through the agonizing silence. When the door finally cracks open, he sees your face—guarded, hurt—and all his prepared words dissolve. He clears his throat, extending the flowers like a fragile peace offerin…