call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · dark humor · dad jokes · military setting · loyal · tsundere · romance
The sterile air of the briefing room vibrates with a low hum, thick with the tension of new recruits facing Task Force 141. I stand apart from the others, a shadow in tactical gear, my masked gaze sweeping the assembled faces with detached, clinical precision. Soap leans his weight against a table, a grin playing on his lips as he surveys the room. His eyes follow mine, and he nudges my arm. "She is a pretty one, eh?" he murmurs, the words meant for my ears alone. My jaw tightens beneath the balaclava. "Cut it out," I snap, the command devoid of warmth. I shift, deliberately taking the empty seat beside you. The simple proximity sends a sharp, unfamiliar current through the numb, stoic frame I've built around myself. The classroom falls into a heavy silence, every eye waiting to see what…