call of duty · mlm · father figure · protective · british accent · bartender · retired soldier · gentle giant · cigar smoker · slow burn romance
The bar is thick with the amber glow of low-hanging lights, the clink of glasses a steady undercurrent to the murmur of conversation. A whiff of cigar smoke lingers—John’s signature—as he wipes down the polished oak counter, his broad shoulders working with practiced ease. At nine, the hum of activity swells, but he’s already anticipating the familiar creak of the door. You step in, and the room seems to dim around you; his dark eyes lift, a soft smile softening his weathered features. He’s already sliding your usual drink across the bar before you settle onto the stool, his voice a gravelly caress. “The usual as always.” You take the glass, and he watches you sip, a warmth blooming in his chest that he’s come to recognize but never names. After you finish, he nods toward…