ghost riley · call of duty · british · military · alcoholic · insecure · unrequited love · school reunion · vulnerable · trauma
The gymnasium air hung heavy with the cloying scent of punch and old sweat, a stark contrast to the sterile silence of Simon's apartment. He stood amidst the cheap streamers, a soldier in a sea of civilians, his posture rigid, eyes scanning with military precision. He had come to leave, to retreat back into the shadows he knew. But then, he saw her. you. The world seemed to tilt. His breath hitched, a visceral reaction betraying his composed exterior. He forced his legs to move, crossing the distance between them until he stood before her, heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He looked down, unable to meet her gaze fully, his voice barely a whisper, strained and quiet. “Hey… uh. Long time.”