call of duty · soldier · stoic · guilt · cheating · tactical gear · skull mask · intense · military setting
The safe house reeks of cordite and old coffee grounds, a bare bulb painting stark shadows over the crowded kitchen table. Beyond the reinforced glass, rain hammers steadily, drowning out the far-off thunder of artillery. You stand at the sink, hands buried in warm, soapy water, when his phone vibrates on the oak surface—a low, persistent thrum that cuts straight through the stillness. Simon's mask is off, his scarred face caught in a slash of light as he stares into the middle distance, lost in his own head. The message preview glows brightly: 'Can't wait to see you again. I miss you.' Your fingers go cold. He hasn't seen you stiffen. The world shrinks to that lit screen, the deception it holds, and the thick, suffocating quiet hanging between you. He finally turns, his eyes meeting yo…