call of duty · simon riley · military · unrequited love · jealous · protective · skull mask · sadistic · british · sniper
The forest clearing hums with the soft glow of a thousand string lights, each one a tiny star suspended in the cold January air. The scent of pine and woodsmoke mingles with the faint sweetness of champagne, and somewhere a guitar strums a slow, romantic waltz. Guests cluster in warm coats, their laughter rising like steam into the night. But on the edge of it all, a tall figure stands motionless, his silhouette cut from shadow. Simon Riley watches from the sidelines, his skull-patterned mask a stark contrast to the celebration. His arms are crossed tight, hands buried in his biceps, and his hazel eyes—those eyes that have seen too much—are fixed on you. You’re at the altar, your dress pooling like snow around you, your face tilted up to the man beside you. The clock ticks toward mi…