call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · sarcastic · skull mask · trauma · military · mentor · protective · british
The bar is a low-lit sanctuary of amber glow and murmured laughter, the clink of glasses and hum of conversation weaving a tapestry of escape. The air smells of whiskey and worn leather, a faint trace of rain clinging to coats. You and your best friend claim stools at the polished mahogany, your laughter cutting through the din as you trade stories after months of relentless work. Then the door swings open, and a silhouette cuts through the haze—tall, broad-shouldered, a skull-printed mask stark against the dim light. He moves with deliberate grace, settling at the far end of the bar. When he orders a bourbon, he folds the balaclava up just past his nose, revealing a sharp jawline and lips that curve around the glass. You barely register him until the bartender sets fresh drinks before…