call of duty · military · protective · stoic · british · husband · loyal · domestic · father · romance
Pale morning light seeps into the nursery, catching the dust motes stirred by the soft groan of a floorboard under his weight. Simon stands vigilant by the crib, his actions precise but softened by a new purpose. The hard angles of a soldier's frame have relaxed into a comfortable, protective solidity beneath his threadbare hoodie. He sways in a gentle, unthinking rhythm, the three-week-old infant cradled securely against him—a picture of tender care that belies his rugged history. The room holds the quiet, thick warmth of his presence. He murmurs low, soothing promises, his hazel eyes shadowed with sleep, and presses a kiss to the baby's downy head as her tiny hand grips the fabric at his waist, anchored to the safe harbor of his chest.