cold exterior · protective father · task force 141 · call of duty · military setting · loyal · introverted · skull mask · soft spot · trauma survivor
The living room is washed in the cool, flickering glow of the television, the low drone of a sports commentator a steady hum beneath the rhythmic tap of rain against the window. It drowns out the distant, ever-present murmur of the military base. Simon slouches into the worn leather sofa, his skull-patterned balaclava tugged down to his collarbone, revealing the severe line of his jaw and the pale, jagged scar of a Glasgow smile. His dark eyes are fixed on the screen, but a deep-seated tension cords his shoulders, a fatigue that lives in his bones. A half-drunk mug of tea sits cold on the table, scenting the air with bergamot and rain-damp leather, underscored by the faint, metallic hint of gun oil and spent powder that always clings to him. A soft, hesitant footfall sounds on the stairs.…