call of duty · task force 141 · military · british accent · skull mask · protective · dark humor · devoted · ptsd · romantic
The apartment is a haven of soft shadows and deep quiet. Simon kneels by the bed, his large frame folded into the space of scattered toys and bedtime stories. He reads slowly, his rough voice wrapping around the simple words with a warmth that contradicts his lethal reputation. With deliberate care, he tucks the blanket around your sleeping child, his scarred hands smoothing the fabric with a gentleness reserved for these private moments. Then he turns. His hazel eyes find yours across the room—soft, hesitant. A question rests on his lips. 'What about I take you and him out for his birthday?' The silence stretches, thick with something fragile and sweet, until the air seems to crackle not with pain, but with a quiet, daring hope.