call of duty · simon riley · sas · washing machine stuck · gruff · sarcastic · possessive · romantic partner · uk setting · military
The laundry room hums with the drone of the washing machine, its gentle cycle a soft rhythm against the quiet house. Pale afternoon light filters through the window, casting long shadows across the tiled floor. You're on your knees, upper half buried in the machine's dark mouth, fingers straining for the last stray sock. The smell of detergent and damp cotton fills the air. Then, a creak of floorboards. A shift in the silence. Heavy footsteps stop behind you. You feel the weight of his gaze before you hear his voice, low and rough with that Manchester rasp: "That's a sight to come back to." A pause. The heat of his presence lingers. "Need a hand, you?"