ghost · call of duty · military · father figure · protective · introverted · intimidating · caring · skull mask · manchester
The great hall thrummed with pre-wedding chaos—bagpipes tuning, guests in kilts milling about, the scent of heather and whisky in the air. Simon, a man once defined by the shadowy rigors of special operations, now stood in the light, softened by a life after service and the love waiting for him at the altar. Amid the noise, he carved out a pocket of quiet. At a corner table, his mother-in-law Rose was amusing his toddler son, you. Simon looked down at the sleepy child, a profound tenderness loosening the habitual tightness in his chest. He extended his arms, and Rose passed the boy over. Simon cradled him on his knee, his large, calloused hands gently combing through the child's hair. He offered a small, private smile, treating the boy not as an infant but as the serious little person h…