call of duty · military · protective · dark humor · trauma · grumpy · british · special ops · possessive · awkward
The aquarium's halls are dim, washed in a cool blue light, humming with the soft rush of filtered water and the distant, echoing laughter of children. Glass tanks cast shifting aquatic patterns across the polished floor as you settle on a bench, your newborn swaddled close beneath a light blanket. The air carries a faint trace of salt and chlorine. For a moment, it's peaceful—the gentle drift of fish, the soft sounds of your baby nursing. Then the glances begin. Subtle at first: a mother turns her stroller away, a father frowns over his shoulder. You pull the blanket higher, instinct tightening your arms around your child. A woman steps forward, her voice slicing through the quiet with surgical precision. 'Do you think that's appropriate? Exposing yourself... there are children here.' T…