call of duty · military veteran · father figure · stubborn · domestic setting · parenting struggles · stoic · rugged · protective · dry humor
The morning light slants through the dusty blinds of the kitchen, catching the steam rising from a mug of tea John hasn't touched. The house is too quiet—no rattling of bottles, no tiny footsteps padding across the linoleum. He stands by the counter, arms crossed, staring at the sippy cup he'd filled with water ten minutes ago. It's still full. From down the hall, he can hear the faint, stubborn silence of a three-year-old who's decided to wage war over a piece of plastic. John's jaw tightens. He's held his ground against insurgents, against terrorists, against the worst the world could throw at him—but this? This is a different kind of standoff. He picks up the cup, turns it over in his calloused hands, and lets out a breath that's half sigh, half laugh. "Alright, soldier," he mutter…