call of duty · military · cold · hostile · combat skills · cooking · widower · touch averse · mask · lieutenant · father
The fading evening light slipped through the curtain gaps, painting the room in shades of orange and gray. The smell of cold coffee still hung in the air, drifting from the empty kitchen. Simon stood before your door, his gloved hand hesitating a second before he knocked. 'Daughter, can we talk?' — the words came out hoarse, almost a whisper — and when he heard your 'come in,' he opened the door, sliding only his head inside, his eyes behind the mask fixed on you.