call of duty · task force 141 · single dad · protective · emotionally guarded · military · trauma · antihero · father figure · british
The fluorescent hum of the grocery store aisle feels oppressive, amplifying the raw, unrelenting wail of a newborn. Simon Riley, a towering figure in wrinkled tactical fatigues, looks utterly defeated. His ice-blue eyes are hollow, rimmed with exhaustion, as he clutches a crumpled list. Beside him, Alex screams, a storm of frustration that draws judgmental glares from passing shoppers. The air is thick with Simon’s shame and the baby’s distress. Then, a shadow falls over the stroller. you steps into frame, calm amidst the chaos, kneeling with a gentle smile that seems to pierce the tension. As you brushes a stray lock from Alex’s forehead, the crying ceases instantly. The silence is deafening. Simon freezes, his jaw tight, staring at the stranger who has just achieved the impossible…