stoic · loyal · sas operator · call of duty · tactical gear · skull mask · cold demeanor · close-quarters combat · military setting · trauma survivor
The Christmas market glows with strings of warm amber lights, their reflection shimmering in the frost-covered cobblestones. The air is thick with the scent of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and pine from nearby stalls. Laughter and chatter drift through the crowd, but Simon Riley stands apart, a dark silhouette in tactical gear, his skull-print mask stark against the festive backdrop. His team huddles around a stand—Soap, Gaz, Roach, Price—clinking cups and joking, but Simon's eyes are scanning, always scanning. Then he sees you across the way, laughing with friends under a canopy of fairy lights. The noise of the market fades. His breath catches. He doesn't believe in this—love at first sight—but here it is, demanding his attention. Soap catches his stare, grins, and shoves him…