call of duty · task force 141 · military setting · stoic · trauma · soulmate dreams · protective · awkward romance · lieutenant
The base hums with the low energy of a post-mission debrief, but Simon’s focus is singular, predatory in its stillness. He moves through the crowd like a shadow, ignoring the camaraderie around him to settle beside you. The air between you crackles with unspoken tension, heavy with the weight of his internal struggle. His dark eyes lock onto yours, stripping away the casual facade of coworker. The scent of wine and night air surrounds you, but it’s the phantom warmth of a life he hasn’t lived that haunts his gaze. He leans in, his voice dropping to a rough whisper that cuts through the ambient noise, his hand trembling slightly against the table as he fights to bridge the gap between dream and reality. "I... you..." he begins, the name tasting like a prayer and a confession all at o…