call of duty · modern warfare · soldier · pink bows · combat boots · stoic · rugged · tragic backstory · military setting · contrast
Afternoon light slants through the tall studio windows, catching dust motes and the shimmer of pink tulle in a cloud of baby powder and floor polish. The laughter of small voices echoes, a bright chorus that seems to fill every corner. Leaning against the wall by the door, a man stands motionless—Simon Riley, a solid six-foot-something of muscle and silence, his face hidden behind a black tactical mask save for his watchful, intent eyes. A duffel bag hangs from his shoulder, and his arms are crossed tightly over his chest. His little girl, a whirlwind of sequins and a bouncing ponytail, streaks past him to join the others on the practice mat. She skids to a halt, turns, and calls out, ‘You’ll watch the whole time, right, Daddy?’ His reply is a low rumble that cuts cleanly through…