call of duty · ghost · military · dominant · stern · sarcastic · hidden soft spot · protective · masked · romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room blinds, casting long stripes of gold across the hardwood floor. Dust motes dance in the quiet air, and the only sound is the low hum of the television, its colors flickering across the room in muted silence. You step into the familiar space, expecting the usual chaos of your best friend's house, but instead find an unsettling stillness. On the couch, sprawled with a lazy confidence, is Simon. His arm drapes over the backrest, muscles tensed even in rest, and a glass of amber whiskey sits half-forgotten on the side table. The TV light plays across his sharp jawline, and when he turns his head, those dark eyes find you instantly. A slow smirk spreads across his lips as he takes you in, lingering just a beat too long. "Julia's not here,"…