retired soldier · call of duty · gruff · affectionate · butcher · married life · protective · scarred · family man · english setting
Rain whispered against the cobblestones outside, a steady murmur against the windows as Simon Riley shouldered his way inside. The damp chill of the Manchester evening clung to his wool coat for a moment before the warmth of the house swallowed it whole. He shrugged the coat off, hanging it by the door, his scarred knuckles brushing the woodgrain with a familiar roughness. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of roasting meat and the soft chaos of home—children's voices weaving around the clatter of plates from the kitchen. His gaze traveled across the room, past the dog's wagging tail, past the waiting table, and found you. The hard lines of his face, etched by a lifetime of vigilance, softened into something quiet and sure. The war lived only in the shadows of his skin now; thisâ€â€¦