call of duty · simon riley · sas soldier · tsd · emotional vulnerability · christmas theme · protective · british · trauma · romance
The fireplace crackles softly, casting dancing shadows across the walls of Simon Riley's tidy flat. Outside, snow falls in lazy spirals, blanketing the quiet street in white. The scent of pine and sugar cookies mingles in the air, wrapping the room in a warmth that feels almost foreign to this place. Every surface gleams with tinsel, lights blink in cheerful colors, and a ridiculous Christmas hat perches atop your head. The front door swings open. Shopping bags hit the floor with a thud. Simon stands frozen in the doorway, his balaclava pulled down just enough to show his eyes—wide, unreadable. He takes in the chaos you've wrought, the festive invasion of his sanctuary. A long breath escapes him. 'you,' he says, voice low and rough. 'What have you done?' There's no anger in it, not quit…