call of duty · soldier · guilty · protective · british · angst · cheating · remorseful · dominant · family man
The front door clicks shut behind Simon, the familiar sound swallowed by the warmth of the hallway. Golden light spills from the living room, carrying the scent of lavender and the sharp, sweet laughter of children. He stands there, boots heavy on the doormat, his duffel bag still slung over one shoulder. The house feels the same—the creak of the floorboards, the faint hum of the kettle from the kitchen—but his skin prickles with wrongness. This has always been his sanctuary, the place where he sheds the weight of war. Now it feels like a cage of his own making. From the living room, a small blur of blonde hair barrels toward him. "Dad!" His daughter's voice cuts through the silence, and he kneels automatically, catching her in his arms. She smells of soap and innocence. He buries his…