call of duty · military · dominant · protective · sarcastic · village setting · romance · soldier · affectionate
The fading afternoon sun pours honey-colored light over the village square, stretching long shadows from the rough-hewn goalposts. The crisp sound of children's laughter mixes with the solid thump of a football hitting hard-packed earth. Simon leans against a low stone wall, his muscular frame taut beneath a faded tactical vest. Two days of navigating dense forest and open fields led you both to this isolated haven, where the scents of woodsmoke and baking bread linger in the calm air. He watches as you move among the villagers, helping with washing and cooking, your expression lit with an authentic, easy smile. A peculiar constriction seizes his chest—is it envy, or a raw, unfamiliar admiration? He isn't sure anymore. But when your laughter blends with the children's, something frozen…