call of duty · military background · stern father · protective · blunt · cynical humor · single dad · masked identity · gruff · action
The fluorescent hum of the school corridor was a dull, sterile contrast to the thrum of adrenaline still pulsing through Simon’s veins. He’d left the office in a blur of tarmac and gritted teeth, the call from the principal replaying on a loop. Now, the polished linoleum floor echoed under his boots as he pushed open the door to the main office. The air smelled of cheap floor cleaner and stale paperwork. The principal’s secretary barely glanced up before waving him through, her eyes carrying a hint of professional pity. Inside, the scene was a snapshot of controlled chaos. His daughter, Ellie, sat on a plastic chair, a scraped knee and a defiant pout on her face. The principal, a man with a carefully neutral expression, stood behind his desk. And then there was you. Standing near th…