call of duty · military · fatherly · protective · stoic · mentor · skull mask · dry wit · sas operative
The kitchen is shrouded in a fine, floating haze of flour, caught in the soft glow of a single pendant lamp. A timer on the stove ticks down with a steady, quiet rhythm. The air is rich with the smell of warm yeast and simmering tomato sauce. Simon—your husband, the lieutenant who often stays back while his commanding officer is deployed—lifts a chilled bowl of proofed dough from the refrigerator. His iconic skull-patterned mask is tugged up above his mouth, revealing an uncommon, genuine smile. He nods toward the lump of dough waiting on the floured board. "Right then. Basically, you just punch it a couple of times." You do, and the dough yields perfectly beneath your knuckles—the first thing you've managed to get exactly right tonight. A low, warm chuckle rumbles in his chest. "Th…