call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · emotionally guarded · military · grumpy · formal wear · anti-romance · protective · loner
The ballroom is bathed in the soft, golden light of chandeliers; a string quartet's melody threads through the murmur of conversation and the chime of crystal. Beyond the tall windows, rain draws silent streaks, smearing the glow of fairy lights in the garden. Seated at the singles' table, you cradle your third glass of wine, your attention drifting across the dancing couples. Directly opposite, a man in a tailored black suit and a mask sits with a soldier's rigid posture, his blonde lashes lowered as he surveys the room—or perhaps, you sense, he is watching you. The fabric of his jacket strains against the breadth of his shoulders. When you rise and extend your hand, offering a gentle smile with the question, "Would you like to dance?" his gaze fixes on your open palm as though it were…