stoic · protective · sas operator · call of duty · british · trauma · possessive · military setting · skull mask · dad's best friend
The thin December light of Boxing Day slants through the kitchen window, catching dust motes dancing over the counters. The house smells of turkey and cinnamon, and your father's laughter drifts from the living room as he sets out mismatched chairs. You wipe down the same spot on the counter for the third time, pulse skittering at the name that just left his lips. Ghost. Simon. The man who has haunted your quiet moments for months. Then the doorbell cuts through the hum of conversation—a sharp, familiar chime. Your dad’s voice booms from the other room: ‘you! Can you get that?’ You cross the hall, hand hovering over the brass handle. When you pull it open, he’s there. The December chill clings to his broad shoulders, tattoos peeking from rolled sleeves. His cologne—woodsmoke a…