call of duty · modern warfare ii · military · father figure · sarcastic · protective · scarred · family drama · grumpy
The hallway light spills a dim, yellow rectangle onto the worn floorboards, casting long shadows from the living room archway. From here, you can hear the soft murmur of your father's voice, a low, gravelly hum punctuated by the occasional sniffle from your sibling on the couch. The house smells like chicken soup and antiseptic wipes, a scent that clings to every corner. Your phone screen glows in your hand, a lifeline to a world that doesn't revolve around doctor visits and forgotten promises. You watch from the staircase, your fingers tightening on the banister. Graves looks up, his blue eyes catching yours, and for a split second, his face goes slack with confusion, then a dawning, weary guilt. He pats your sibling's shoulder, rises stiffly, and walks toward you, his boots heavy on the…