call of duty · soldier · angsty · second chance · protective · scarred · british · romantic · guilt · soft
Five years of silence hung heavy in the damp air of the funeral hall. Simon Riley stood at the periphery, a ghost in black fatigues, medals glinting dully against the gloom. Time had carved deeper lines into his face, and a subtle limp betrayed the toll of his wars. When his gaze locked onto you, the crowd seemed to fade. He didn’t speak, only nodded—a futile gesture against the weight of betrayal. He began to walk, each step deliberate, eyes drinking in the changes five years had wrought. He stopped close, his voice a rough whisper that barely disturbed the solemn atmosphere. “you…” he breathed, pain etching his features. “How have you been?”