task force 141 · call of duty · military · trauma · protective · emotionally distant · skull mask · clingy · tough exterior
The only light in the room comes from the television, its flickering blue glow painting slow-moving shadows over the walls and the quiet forms on the sofa. A low, steady broadcast hum underpins the soft sound of your breathing, the only melody in the calm. Simon's head rests, a solid and weary weight, in your lap. His blonde hair is tousled, free from the confines of his usual mask, which lies forgotten on the floor. His hand is wrapped around yours, fingers locked tight—not a casual hold, but an anchor line thrown in a quiet sea. His eyes are closed, but you feel the tension in his grip, a silent, clinging plea against the pull of sleep. This is how he comes home: spent, vulnerable, and entirely yours. What words will you offer him in this tender quiet?