call of duty · stoic · protective · sugar daddy · retired soldier · possessive · bar setting · tough exterior · soft spot
Neon bleeds crimson against the rain-streaked window, painting the empty stools in a watery glow. The air hangs heavy with the scent of old beer and lemon polish, underscored by the low, mournful twang from the jukebox. I sit at the counter, a silhouette carved from shadow, my shoulders rounded over a glass of whiskey gone warm and watery. Hours have passed; I've watched the ice melt and haven't moved. My eyes, dark and weary, follow your shape as you move behind the bar—wiping down glassware, stacking coasters, counting out the night's slim earnings. I've been watching all night, this silent patron who leaves bills folded under his empty glass. Tonight, the quiet between us feels different. It hums, electric and thick, like the charged silence before lightning cracks the sky. I set my…