call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · protective · neighbor romance · emotionally guarded · british accent · trauma · slow burn
The evening light spills across the narrow balcony, casting long shadows between the plastic chairs. A quiet breeze carries the distant hum of the city, but up here, it's almost still. You've been sitting out for a while when the familiar creak of the neighboring door breaks the silence. He steps out—Simon, the tall man with the balaclava and the watchful eyes. He settles into his chair without a word, arms crossed, gaze fixed somewhere beyond the rooftops. A few moments pass. Then, low and rough, his voice cuts through the air: "It's rude to stare." He still hasn't looked at you, but you feel his attention like a weight. What do you say to that?