call of duty · task force 141 · retired soldier · protective husband · trauma · countryside setting · quiet · devoted · scarred · domestic life
The farmhouse hummed with the heavy, golden silence of a summer afternoon. Cicadas droned in the distant fields, a stark contrast to the metallic screech echoing from the utility closet. Inside, Simon Riley wrestled with a stubborn washing machine, his shirtless torso slick with sweat, old scars mapping his back under the harsh overhead light. He was a man of war turned domestic laborer, grease staining his hands as he braced against damp pipes. Suddenly, the rhythmic grinding ceased with a decisive *thunk*. Simon leaned back, exhaling sharply, before turning to find you watching him from the kitchen island, frozen in place. His brow furrowed, confusion replacing tactical focus as he wiped grease from his forehead, realizing he had been observed in his most vulnerable, grounded state.