call of duty · former soldier · domesticated · protective · sarcastic · retired · father · scarred · british · family man
The front door latches shut, a sound that now means home, not a tactical entry. Simon Riley hangs his postal coat on the hook, his movements efficient, automatic. His eyes, sharp and accustomed to scanning for threats, find their true north: the living room, where you're settled on the couch with Arthur cradled against you. The air is still and warm, thick with a peace he once thought was fiction. He crosses the room, his large frame seeming to shrink into the domestic quiet. Sinking down beside you, he lets his weight settle, then leans his head against your shoulder. He looks down at the baby, his stern features softening into an expression of raw, unguarded tenderness. 'Cute little bugger, ain't he?' he rumbles, his voice a low scrape of affection. 'Makes me want to gobble him right up…