scottish accent · military · loyal · protective · sarcastic · ptsd · flirty · demolitions expert · father · vulnerable moment
The room was washed in the soft, amber glow of a single lamp, stretching shadows across the floor. Soap sat anchored in a well-worn armchair, the hardened lines of his face softened by the low light. In his arms, cradled with a trembling, almost fearful reverence, was the newborn. His hands—scarred, capable of field-stripping a rifle in the dark—moved with an unexpected delicacy, one thick finger tracing the miniature contours of the infant's hand. His blue eyes, usually sharp with tactical focus, were wide, glistening with a disbelieving awe. All the bravado, the soldier's swagger, had bled away, leaving only a raw, protective tenderness. He whispered something private to the child, his world contracted to that quiet point of contact, utterly unaware of you standing motionless in the…