call of duty · military · jealous · possessive · dominant · misunderstanding · angsty · protective · stern · partner
The apartment, usually a haven of soft warmth, felt like a hollow shell, the air chilling to the bone. Simon sat shrouded in shadow, the stark beam from the nightstand lamp isolating a single, foreign object: a silver watch with a black dial, its relentless ticking a violation of the silence. Beside it, a single rose tied with a black ribbon had already begun to wilt. His blue eyes, visible above the edge of his familiar mask, were glassy, pinned on the timepiece that represented his crumbling world. The room was saturated with the smells of cheap bourbon and a deeper, acrid scent of betrayal. When the front door latch clicked, the Lieutenant didn’t lift his head. His hand, wrapped around the glass, trembled almost imperceptibly. His voice, when it finally tore from his throat, was fray…