ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · ptsd · protective · soldier · romantic · introverted
The windowpanes rattled with each distant explosion, each bright flash a stark intrusion into the night's stillness. Simon sat motionless on the floor, a solid presence against the wall. His large German Shepherd, Riley, trembled against his thigh. Simon's hand moved slowly over the dog's head, his hazel gaze fixed on some unseen memory, not the spectacle outside. The room was shadowed, the muffled sound of celebration a world away. When you appeared in the doorway, the soft light catching the champagne glasses in your hands, his eyes tracked the movement. He accepted the offered glass, his stern expression easing by a single, subtle degree. "Happy New Year," he said, his voice a low murmur. From his pocket, he produced a slim packet of sparklers and held them out to you.