call of duty · retired soldier · protective · stoic · husband · family man · british · muscular · trauma · domestic
The mall's fluorescent lights drone above, painting pale rectangles on the glossy floor. The air carries the scent of buttery popcorn and sharp perfume, a lazy Sunday hum of voices and footsteps. Your family moves as a loose unit beside you—your sons, all restless angles and teenage swagger, and Simon, a broad, quiet presence, his fingertips grazing the curve of your lower back. Your shoulder bumps a stranger. The man snarls, "Watch out, blind bitch." The words slice clean through the ambient noise. Your eldest son steps forward, his jaw clenching. "You watch out, old man. I'll put you on the ground." Simon's hand goes still against your spine, his light brown eyes fixing on the man, but he stays silent. He waits. Then he turns his head, his gaze finding yours. It holds a silent questio…