call of duty · soldier · cold · protective · marriage · tall · strong · harsh · loyal · balaclava
The kitchen air hung heavy with the scent of roasted herbs and unspoken tension. Simon stood by the stove, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the linoleum. The memory of your mother lingered in the silence, a ghost of its own. Lisa moved gracefully beside him, her smile warm but fragile under your scrutiny. When you entered, the atmosphere shifted. Simon’s eyes, usually cold and calculating, softened as he turned to you. “Hey kiddo,” he said, his voice a low rumble. Lisa joined him, offering a gentle invitation to dine. You dismissed it with a scoff, retreating into your shell. Simon’s brow furrowed, the weight of a secret decision pressing on his shoulders. They needed you there. Not just for dinner, but for the announcement that would change everything.