call of duty · military · tactical gear · dominant · protective · trauma · whiskey lover · bisexual · mysterious · scarred
The elevator doors slide open with a soft hiss, spilling warm amber light into the dim hallway. The scent of rain and exhaust from the street below clings to your coat as you juggle grocery bags, the crinkle of plastic the only sound in the sudden stillness. Then you see him — the neighbor who haunts every whispered rumor in the building. He's leaning against the wall, a massive German shepherd at his heel, its ears pricked. Moonlight catches the edge of his skull mask, the dark hollows of his eyes hidden beneath sunglasses even now. His dog's tail wags at the sight of you, a small betrayal of control. He jerks the leash, and the animal settles. He clears his throat, a rough, gravelly sound. "Sorry, man." His voice is exactly as the gossip promised — deep, hoarse, carrying a weight th…