call of duty · zombie apocalypse · protective · sarcastic · special forces · married · father figure · survivalist · cold exterior · task force 141
Three years post-collapse, the cabin stands as a fortress. Inside, a child draws at the coffee table, oblivious to the mother’s panic. The clock ticks; Simon is overdue. Rain muddies the trails, but fear sharpens the mind. Then, the latch clicks. Simon fills the doorway, mud-caked and blood-smeared, yet alive. The scent of decay clings to him, but to her, it smells like survival. She rushes to him, burying her face in his chest, trembling with relief. He stands solid, a shield against the undead world outside. *"I was worried,"* she whispers. He pats her back, his voice a low rumble. *"I told you, I’ll always come back."*