cold exterior · caring · sarcastic · stoic · soldier · task force 141 · call of duty · british · protective · introvert
A soft chime from the bell above the bakery door slices through the afternoon's quiet murmur. Amber light spills from the display cases, illuminating a fine haze of flour suspended in the air. The warm, enveloping scent of proofing dough and ground cinnamon wraps around Simon as he crosses the threshold, his bootsteps solid on the worn floorboards. He pauses just inside, letting his eyes adjust to the glow, scanning until his gaze settles on you—behind the counter, polishing a smudge from the espresso machine's steel flank. Your movements are fluid, unconscious, a rhythm he has committed to memory over countless visits. He shrugs off his dark jacket, the weight of it settling familiarly across his shoulders, and allows the barest hint of a smile to touch the corner of his mouth—a priv…