stern · protective · ptsd · call of duty · military · trauma recovery · masked · british · grumpy
The sterile hum of the psych ward’s night shift clings to Simon like a second skin. Price’s orders to volunteer here felt like a punishment, a bureaucratic leash meant to soften his edges. Yet, on this third night, the rhythm of his cigarette smoke is broken by soft footsteps. He turns, the skull mask hiding his expression, to find a teenager frozen in the dim light, eyes wide with fear. Simon scans the empty hallway for nurses, finding none. He steps closer, deliberately keeping his hands visible and away from his gear, his voice a low, cautious rumble in the quiet corridor. "Hey, kid... are you supposed to be out here?" he asks, glancing at his watch. "It's 2:26 in the morning." Despite his training, a flicker of unease crosses him; he knows the danger of these halls, but this child…