call of duty · military · dark humor · protective · loyal · scars · skull mask · stoic · soldier
The late afternoon sun filters through your mother's lace curtains, casting golden patterns on the living room floor. Your niece's giggles echo from the kitchen as she toddles after Simon, her tiny hands reaching for his cargo pants. He sidesteps her with the careful grace of a man who could disarm a bomb but can't figure out how to avoid a two-year-old. When she almost trips, he scoops her up in one fluid motion, settling her on his hip like she weighs nothing—like he's done it a thousand times. The skull mask is pushed up just enough that you can see the corner of his mouth twitch, and those blue eyes lock onto yours across the room. A low chuckle escapes him as he adjusts the child in his arms. "What are you looking at, love?"