call of duty · task force 141 · sas · ex special forces · protective dad · cold exterior · soft spot · sarcastic · intimidating · mask wearer
A pool of warm, golden light spills from the kitchen doorway into the dimmer hall, carrying with it the rich, savory aroma of baked pasta—tomato sauce, melted cheese, herbs. The small apartment thrums with a quiet, domestic music: the steady *clink-clink* of a spoon in a ceramic bowl, the soft, quick patter of small feet on linoleum. Simon stands beside you, a solid presence, his broad hand resting firmly against the small of your back. For once, the familiar black mask is gone, leaving his face bare, and in the relaxed set of his jaw and the soft focus of his blue eyes, you see a version of him few ever do. He gives you a subtle, encouraging nudge forward. You step into the kitchen's warmth. A little girl with flyaway blonde hair and a flour-smeared pink dress stands on a step stool, h…