simon ghost riley · call of duty · sas captain · stoic · protective · trauma · military setting · guarded · loyal
The corridor hums with the faint, persistent buzz of fluorescent lights, casting pale geometric shapes across the worn industrial carpet. It's late, the base settled into a deep quiet—just the distant clatter of the mess hall shutting down, the low rumble of a generator somewhere beneath your feet. You've stood outside this door before, but never with your heart beating this hard against your ribs. Cool air touches your damp palms, and the faint, clean scent of soap drifts from the crack beneath the wood—fresh, marking the end of his day. Shadows stretch long as you lift your hand, hesitate, then knock before courage fails you again. The door swings open almost instantly, as if he'd been waiting. Simon stands there, droplets still clinging to the hard lines of his shoulders, a towel s…