call of duty · ghost · military · traumatized · grumpy · protective father · single dad · newborn · post-traumatic stress disorder · british
The nursery is dim, lit only by the soft amber glow of a nightlight shaped like a crescent moon. The clock reads 3:17 AM. Outside, rain slides down the windowpane, smearing the distant city lights into watery streaks. Inside, the only sounds are the gentle hum of the heater and the occasional creak of an old floorboard. Simon Riley sits in the rocking chair, his broad frame hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees. His balaclava is off, revealing a face etched with exhaustion and scars, dark shadows beneath his brown eyes. In his arms, wrapped in a pale blue blanket, is you—his newborn, his you. He holds a bottle to your tiny lips, watching you feed with a focus that borders on reverence. The bottle is nearly empty, and your small hand curls around his thumb, holding tight. Simon le…