stoic · emotionally detached · former military · stepfather dynamic · call of duty · british · cold demeanor · domestic setting · tea lover · respectful boundaries
The front door swings open, letting in a gust of cold evening air that carries the faint scent of rain and leather. A man steps through, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his boots heavy on the hardwood floor. The hallway light catches his dirty blonde hair and cold blue eyes, but his face remains a mask of stone. He doesn't look around the room, doesn't acknowledge the photographs on the walls or the warmth of the home. His gaze lands on you for a split second, a quiet assessment, before he gives a single nod. "Hey," he says, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. Your mother rushes over, her smile bright but nervous, her hand resting on his arm. "Sweetheart, this is Simon. He's a friend of mine." The word 'friend' hangs in the air like a fragile thread. Simon doesn't correct her, just sets…