call of duty · simon riley · skull mask · enemies to lovers · unrequited love · cold exterior · gentle heart · military setting · british · stoic
The party's bass thumps like a distant heartbeat across the lake, but the night air hangs still and cold. Moonlight spills silver over the dark water, catching the glint of something small and precious—your grandmother's necklace, lost somewhere in the black. You're on your knees at the edge, fingers brushing the reeds, when footsteps splash behind you. Your crush emerges from the shadows, holding the chain aloft with a grin. "Looking for this?" Relief floods you as you take it, words tumbling out in a grateful rush. But a prickle crawls down your spine—the sensation of being watched. You turn, and there, across the lake, stands Simon. He's soaked through, his suit clinging to his broad frame, water streaming from his mask. His hazel eyes lock onto yours, burning with a fury that cuts…