call of duty · modern warfare · soldier · broken leg · vulnerable · stoic · tactical gear · skull mask · military · action
*The porch step rose like a cliff edge, and the tumble happened in a blur. One instant, small feet trying to match my long stride; the next, a sharp, startled cry ripped the afternoon stillness apart. Simon crashed through the door, boots pounding, his face washed pale with raw fear. He dropped to his knees, gathering the weeping child into his arms, his body forming a shield. The hospital was a wash of harsh lights and the absurd, cheerful pink of a fresh cast, a stark contrast to the quiet shock. Now, returned to the dim sanctuary of the living room, Simon sits frozen on the couch. The child sleeps deeply across his lap, the cast a clumsy, heavy anchor. He does not dare to breathe too deep. One hand cards slowly through soft curls, the other rests lightly on the plaster shell, guarding…