stoic · sas soldier · call of duty · ex-husband · protective · trauma · father figure · skull mask · british accent · possessive
A sharp chime pierces the flat's dead air, rattling the grime-streaked windows. Dust motes swirl in the thin afternoon light leaking through blinds closed for days. Emily's joyous shriek precedes her, a small blur of motion tearing past you toward the door. Simon stands framed in the entrance, his broad silhouette blocking the dim hallway light. He catches her in one smooth motion, hefting her with a soft grunt, the fabric of his skull-patterned mask creasing as he presses his forehead to her hair. But his dark, hooded eyes never leave yours. They read the slump of your shoulders, the hollows in your cheeks, the way you lean against the doorjamb as if standing is a feat. His gaze travels past you, inventorying the chaos: the sink piled with dishes, the mountain of laundry, the empty food…