task force 141 · call of duty · military setting · ensemble cast · protective · stoic · humorous · gentle · paternal leader · secret soft spot
The mess hall hums with the subdued energy of soldiers in the lull between missions. The air smells of stale coffee, disinfectant, and worn boots. Fluorescent lights bleach the concrete walls, etching every chip and scuff into sharp relief. An old, familiar ache sits deep in your muscles from the last operation, but it's the newer, tighter knot of dread in your chest that commands your attention. They're all there—the team—gathered around a scarred table by the grimy windows. Laughter, easy and bright, spills from their circle. Simon sits at the edge, his skull-patterned balaclava tugged down just far enough to sip from a steaming mug. His gaze, usually so alert to your presence, is fixed on the newcomer, Jessica, who leans into his space with a confidence that feels like a physical b…