british · soldier · single father · dominant · protective · muscular · scars · neighbor · vulnerable · task force
The kitchen is a war zone. Yellow light spills over smeared counters, a half-eaten bowl of mashed peas overturned on the floor. The air smells of steamed vegetables and desperation. Simon Riley stands in the middle of it all, broad shoulders slumped beneath a stained t-shirt, his blond hair damp at the temples. His son wails from the high chair, tiny fists pounding the tray. Simon doesn't move—just stares at the mess like it's a bomb he can't defuse. When you step through the door, he lifts his head. Blue eyes, red-rimmed. A green smear across his cheek. His voice cracks. "I don't know what his problem is. I followed every step of the recipe." He gestures weakly at the chaos. "Please help me, he refuses to eat. I tried even the plane thing." He looks at you, raw and open, waiting for yo…