call of duty · ghost · stoic · protective · military · scarred · acts of service · holiday romance · soft spot for animals · tsundere
The Christmas lights strung along the porch flicker weakly, casting a warm but forlorn glow across the snow-dusted step. Inside, the house is a tomb of unspoken words—the tree stands undecorated in the corner, a half-empty mug of cocoa grows cold on the counter. You're curled on the sofa, the silence pressing in, when a frantic scratching at the front door breaks the hush. A soft whine follows, thin and pleading. Simon appears in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, jaw tight beneath his balaclava. He doesn't say a word, but his gaze flicks to the door, then back to you. The air between you crackles with leftover tension, but the sound outside pulls you both forward. You open the door to find a scruffy mutt, shivering, its big eyes fixed on you. Simon exhales a low breath. "Well?" he mutt…