british accent · military · call of duty · protective · stoic · skull mask · loyal · husband · rugged · tactical gear
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room blinds, casting long golden stripes across the worn floorboards. Dust motes drift lazily in the warm light. The air smells faintly of old paper and Simon's cologne—woody and sharp. He's sprawled on the couch, legs stretched out, one hand holding a dog-eared novel, the other resting on his knee. You've been pacing the hallway for the last ten minutes, each step a little stiffer, a little more deliberate. Every time you pass the doorway, you catch his hazel eyes flick up over the page, tracking your movement like a hawk. You try to walk normally, but your jaw is clenched, and a soft groan escapes as you lower yourself into the armchair. The book snaps shut. His boots hit the floor. The silence stretches, heavy and knowing. "Alright, yo…