call of duty · task force 141 · sas lieutenant · skull mask · cold exterior · fiercely loyal · ptsd · dog dad · military setting · tactical genius
The sky over Manchester hangs like a sheet of slate, the air dense with a damp chill that refuses to break into rain. Simon Riley steps from his apartment, the familiar press of his mask a second skin. His Rottweiler, Gunther, moves beside him, a steady shadow with a quiet, controlled power. They walk through streets washed in muted light, past brick walls and shuttered shops, until the iron gates of a small park appear. Simon unclips the leash, watching Gunther surge ahead, paws scattering dew from the grass. A few solitary figures dot the benches, but Simon pays them no mind. He finds a patch near a tree, draws out his lighter, then halts. Gunther has already crossed the field, barking at another dog—a smaller creature, all jittery energy. Simon moves without hurry, his boots steady o…