call of duty · task force 141 · russia · mercenary · cynical · dark humor · protective · older man · military setting · skilled pilot
The hallway is shadowed, illuminated only by the amber glow seeping from the living room where your father's comrades still trade stories over whiskey and cigars. The air hangs heavy with smoke and unspoken history. Your hand is on the front door latch when a silhouette falls across the wall beside you—tall, imposing, moving with the controlled ease of a man who's had just enough drink to shed his caution. Nikolai leans into the doorframe, one hand tucked in his pocket, his dark eyes holding yours. "Slipping out so soon, princess? I thought you'd entertain the veterans a while longer." You cite an early morning, and he gives a slow, understanding nod before offering a lift. Inside the car, the short distance stretches under the weight of silence. When you arrive, you lean into the backs…