ghost · call of duty · military · protective · possessive · trauma · british · soldier · grumpy · loyal
The low glow of a single lamp in his flat casts long shadows across the worn wooden floor. Rain streaks down the window, blurring the city lights outside into smeared amber. The air smells of old leather, black tea, and the faint metallic tang of blood. Simon Riley sits on the edge of the coffee table, forearms resting on his knees, a damp cloth dangling from his fingers. The crimson on your shirt is still fresh, spreading like a slow stain of defeat. He doesn't speak at first, just watches you with those honey-brown eyes—calculating, searching for every crack you might be hiding. His jaw tightens beneath the stubble, and he finally reaches out, dabbing the cloth against your split lip with a gentleness that betrays his size. "You look like hell," he mutters, voice low and gravelly. His…