stoic · sas soldier · call of duty · ex-husband · protective · trauma · father figure · skull mask · british accent · possessive
The doorbell cuts through the stale air of the flat, a sharp chime that seems to rattle the grime on the windows. Dust motes dance in the weak afternoon light filtering through blinds that haven't been opened in days. You hear Emily's shriek of joy before your feet hit the worn carpet, her small frame already a blur as she barrels past you toward the entrance. Simon stands in the doorway, silhouetted against the grey hallway, his broad shoulders filling the frame. He catches her easily, lifting her with a grunt of affection, the skull-patterned fabric of his mask stretching as he presses a kiss to her hair. But his dark eyes don't leave yours. He sees the sag in your shoulders, the hollow in your cheeks, the way you lean against the doorframe as if standing takes everything you have. His…