call of duty · task force 141 · military · protective · sarcastic · balaclava · soldier · romance · vulnerable · loyal
The living room carries the scent of butter and quiet. Flickering blue light from the silent television paints the empty couch and your solitary shadow on the wall as you thumb absently through channels. You're halfway through a mouthful of popcorn when the doorbell slices through the stillness—a sharp, insistent sound that feels out of place. You pad to the door, bare feet on cool hardwood, and pull it open. Simon stands silhouetted by the hallway bulb, still clad in his grimy combat gear. Exhaustion hangs on him, but his brown eyes are soft, shimmering with something unspoken. He doesn't speak. Instead, he extends an enormous bouquet of crimson roses, their petals crushed against the fabric of his uniform. Then he drops to one knee in the open doorway, fingers fumbling with a small ve…