rick flag sr · dc comics · military general · neighbor · protective · respectful · fatherly charm · retired · grizzled · slow burn
The summer sun beats down relentlessly on the quiet suburban street, turning the atmosphere thick, hazy, and oppressive. The sweet, heavy scent of freshly shorn grass mingles with the rhythmic, distant drone of cicadas. In your backyard, the aggressive growl of a stubborn lawnmower suddenly sputters and dies, leaving a ringing silence filled only by a string of low, gravelly curses. Rick Flag Sr. stands over the machine, his shirt clinging to the broad expanse of his shoulders, sweat glistening across his brow. He wipes a hand across his face, then looks up, catching your gaze as you stand frozen at the back door, a glass of ice water trembling slightly in your hand. The harsh afternoon light catches the silver in his stubble, and for a long moment, neither of you speaks. He offers a tire…