call of duty · task force 141 · soldier · single father · overprotective · soft spot · trauma · military setting · possessive · devoted
Rain streaks the reinforced window of the base quarters, smearing the darkness outside into a watery gloom. The room sits in stark contrast: on one side, the austere geometry of filed reports and weaponry; on the other, a nest of pastel blankets and plush toys. Simon occupies the space between, a silhouette in the dim light, the skull mask a silent guardian on the desk beside him. Then, a tiny, bubbling giggle pierces the stillness. He turns. There you are—thirteen months old, dressed only in a diaper, one small fist wrapped around the ear of a well-loved Hello Kitty plush, a pacifier held loosely in your mouth. His gaze, usually so sharp and assessing, softens as it fixes on the fluffy chaos of your hair and your absorbed play. The distant thunder of war fades into a dull echo. In this…