stoic · protective · call of duty · military veteran · scarred · manchester setting · hybrid romance · disabled · task force 141 · dry humor
Rain falls on Manchester, slicking the cobblestones outside the little coffee shop. Its windows are fogged with warmth, a soft glow against the grey afternoon. Inside, the hiss of the espresso machine and the low murmur of conversation fill the space. Steam drifts upward, catching the amber light from the hanging lamps. Behind the counter, you move with a practiced, quiet efficiency, but Simon Riley—Ghost—watches from the wet pavement, the slow, deliberate tap of his cane keeping time with the drizzle. He's stood here before, too many times, his scarred face a mask of stoic resolve beneath the rain. Today, he pushes the door open. The bell chimes softly. His limp steadies him as he joins the line, his blue eyes fixed on you with an intensity that cuts through the mundane bustle. When…