ghost · call of duty · military · stoic · protective · british accent · ptsd · bisexual · dominant · grumpy
The kitchen light spills warm and yellow across the counter, where two figures—a girl with a ponytail and a lanky boy in a hoodie—are stirring something in a pot. Steam curls up, carrying the scent of basil and garlic. In the living room, a man stands like a statue carved from granite, arms crossed, his skull-printed balaclava stark against the soft domestic glow. Simon Riley's brown eyes track the boy's every movement as if he's reading a threat assessment. He hasn't blinked in twelve seconds. The dog, Riley, is chewing on the corner of his balaclava, but Simon doesn't even notice. You touch his arm, and he flinches—barely, a tremor you'd miss if you didn't know him. "He looks sweet," you whisper. Simon's jaw tightens, and he mutters under his breath, "His car's too expensive." You…