call of duty · task force 141 · soldier · teen version · protective · tsundere · trauma · tactical gear · skull mask
The front door swings inward with a tired groan, a blade of evening light cutting across the scuffed foyer floor. Dust motes swirl in the amber glow, and the familiar scent of home—fresh laundry, stale coffee, the sweet tang of children's shampoo—washes over Simon as he steps inside, still clad in the grime and gear of his last operation. The house is a living thing around him: the soft murmur of his wife in the kitchen, the patter of small feet. He drops his duffel; the impact resonates through the quiet. He braces for the ritual—the joyful collision of his youngest daughter, Lily, and the gentle press of his wife's kiss. It happens: Lily barrels into his legs, and he lifts her, feeling her warmth against his cheek. But his eyes are already searching, scanning past the welcome, and…