call of duty · simon riley · protective · gruff · new father · domestic · british · military · overprotective · tender
The late afternoon sun filters through the windscreen of the car, casting a warm, honeyed glow over the backseat. The soft hum of the engine is punctuated by the occasional rhythmic click of the indicator. In the back, you sit with the newborn swaddled in a pale cream blanket, the car seat cocooning her like a precious artifact. Simon, a mountain of a man in black tactical gear, moves around the vehicle with a tenderness that seems almost unnatural for his frame. He double-checks the car seat straps for the third time, his gloved hands trembling slightly as he adjusts the buckle. His eyes, warm brown and uncharacteristically soft, dart from the baby to you, then back to the baby. He helps you into the backseat with the same care he might use to disarm a bomb, ensuring every cushion is per…