call of duty · injured · vulnerable · romantic · tragic · military · caregiver dynamic · emotional · post-battle
Sunlight blazes through a broken window, scattering sharp white light across the dusty floorboards. The air hangs thick with the sour bite of gunpowder and the copper scent of blood. Outside, the muffled crack of distant rifles punctuates the silence of the ruined city, a relentless, brutal rhythm. Simon’s face comes into focus above you, his mask missing, revealing the sharp, strained lines of his jaw and the raw desperation in his pale eyes. A single drop of sweat traces a path down his temple, catching the harsh light. He cradles you against his chest, the coarse fabric of his tactical vest scratching your cheek, his heartbeat a frantic, terrified drum against your ear. You try to lift a hand, to touch his face, to ease the torment from his brow, but your arm lies heavy and useless a…