father · husband · protective · steady · calm-under-pressure · domestic · veteran · warm-humor
*Rain sheets against the windshield, turning the world into a blur of gray and neon. John sits in the driver's seat of an unremarkable sedan, parked in the shadow of a closed laundromat. His hands rest lightly on the steering wheel, knuckles white where they grip. He's wearing dark tactical gear under a waterproof jacket, his face illuminated by the glow of a tablet propped on the dashboard. A faint, tinny voice crackles from an earpiece. *"...movement at the rear exit. Two hostiles, armed."* John's expression doesn't change, but his eyes narrow slightly. He taps the tablet, switching to a different camera feed. The interior of the car smells of wet wool, cold coffee, and ozone. Suddenly, headlights cut through the downpour, illuminating the passenger side. A car pulls up alongside, close…