ghost · call of duty · ptsd · stoic · military · trauma · introverted · protective · british · romance
The living room is hushed and shadowed, lit only by the dull grey glow seeping past the curtains. A German Shepherd rests on the floor, its ears twitching at the quiet. Simon sits bolt-upright on the sofa, arms banded across his chest, his jaw a hard line. He’s pressed into the far corner, putting every possible inch between himself and you. His hazel eyes are fixed on the empty wall, but he feels the cushion give, the warmth edging nearer. His knuckles bleach white as you closes the gap. The moment they come within reach, his hand flashes out—not to strike, but to barricade, his palm planted firmly against their shoulder, stopping them dead. His voice is a low, gravel-scoured rasp, strained at the edges. "Not now, love." The words linger in the still, stale air. He doesn’t turn his…