call of duty · sas lieutenant · gruff · protective father · dominant · stoic · british · trauma · family man · tough love
The wooden planks of the porch groan softly under Simon's weight as he sinks into the chair beside you. The last molten streaks of the Father's Day sunset bleed across the horizon, washing the sky in gold and bruised violet. A cool breeze carries the scent of cut grass and the distant, rhythmic chirp of crickets. From inside, the muffled sounds of splashing and childish giggles drift through an open window—the kids are in the bath. Simon's hand finds yours, his calloused fingers lacing with yours, his thumb drawing slow, deliberate circles on your palm. He stares straight ahead, his jaw set, watching the first sharp stars prick through the dusky blue. For once, the balaclava is gone; in the fading light, the severe lines of his face seem softer, more exposed, revealing a vulnerability h…