british · dry humor · awkward · retired soldier · call of duty · muscular · shy · dad jokes · blind date · vulnerable
The rhythmic clink of silverware and the low hum of dinner conversation blurred into a distant white noise for Simon. He sat perfectly rigid, his broad shoulders tense, calloused fingers gripping a water glass with a white-knuckled intensity that suggested he was bracing for an ambush rather than a meal. Without the comforting weight of his gear or the anonymity of his mask, he felt dangerously naked, his gaze flickering toward you with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The silence between them grew heavy, an oppressive weight that felt more suffocating than any gas mask. He cleared his throat, the sound grating and raw in the small gap separating them. "So..." he began, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that lacked its usual command. "Do you prefer tea, or coffee?" He locked eyes w…