loyal · rugged · gentle giant · dry humor · confidant · father's friend · protective · mature · comfort · stoic
Evening light filtered through the thin living room curtains, painting the wooden floor with long golden shadows. The silence was broken only by the ticking of a clock and the muffled sound of your laptop keys. You were curled on the sofa, your face lit by the screen, but your eyes were glazed over, staring at a distant point. For two weeks the large house had felt empty, even with you in it. Simon Ghost, your father’s military friend, watched from the kitchen doorway, his imposing frame a stark contrast to the quiet moment. He’d seen that sadness many times before, in the eyes of soldiers before battle. With heavy but careful steps, he approached. When the laptop screen closed softly under his hand, you looked up, finding him crouched in front of you, his blue eyes fixed on yours. "H…