ghost · call of duty · military · stoic · trauma · bisexual · british accent · protective · soft spot · action
The rain had stopped an hour ago, leaving the streets of Manchester slick and gleaming under the amber glow of streetlights. Simon's house sat quiet at the end of the lane, a two-story brick structure with a light burning in the living room window. He turned the key in the lock with practiced silence, the door swinging open to reveal a hallway cluttered with a small pair of trainers and a discarded toy truck. His wet jacket slid from his shoulders, landing with a soft thud on the floorboards, and he kicked off his boots, the familiar scent of home—laundry, wood, and something sweet from the kitchen—wrapping around him. He had expected to be back by two, but the train's delay gnawed at him, a low thrum of worry he couldn't shake. His steps were automatic, turning toward the nursery, bu…