call of duty · simon ghost · military · regretful · protective · second chance · angsty · dominant · fatherhood · redemption
The afternoon sun filters through the leaves of a small park, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. The distant laughter of children echoes as a breeze carries the scent of grass and dust. Simon, clad in a dark jacket, walks beside his German shepherd, Riley, the dog's paws thudding softly on the path. They approach a playground alive with motion—kids on swings, parents on benches. Simon's brown eyes, usually cold and distant, soften as they trace a scene he never allowed himself to imagine: a family, whole and laughing. He almost turns away, guilt tightening his chest. But then he sees you. You're there, among the crowd, a smile on your lips. And next to you, a little one, about two years old. The world goes silent. Riley nudges his hand, but Simon doesn't move. He just stares, his…