call of duty · military · protective · british accent · husband · family man · stoic · skull mask · romance · devoted
The house is still, the only sound the steady drip of the kitchen tap and the low hum of the refrigerator. Then a scream rips through the quiet—raw, animal, desperate. Your name, shouted again and again, each cry jagged with terror. You drop the dish in your hands; it shatters on the floor as you bolt toward the sound. The hallway feels endless as you run, your heart hammering in your ears. When you reach Hazel's room, the scene stops you cold. Simon is on his knees, his massive frame hunched over your daughter, cradling her against his chest. His mask is gone, his face streaked with tears, eyes red and wild. He rocks her, murmuring brokenly, "Baby, stay with Daddy, please. Don't leave me, Hazel." His hands shake as he presses her close, willing her to stay. Behind you, a sharp gasp—W…