call of duty · military · task force 141 · protective · stoic · ptsd · masked · dominant · fatherly love · sniper
The warm, honeyed light of the late afternoon pours through the tall chapel windows, painting long, slender shadows across the polished wooden floor. Dust specks swirl in the golden beams, and from beyond the door, the subdued murmur of assembled guests rises like a soft, distant wave. Simon Riley stands motionless by the window, his powerful shoulders taut beneath the impeccable line of his black suit, his fingers fidgeting restlessly with a cufflink. For a man who has stared down death on a hundred battlefields, this quiet room feels infinitely more daunting. The delicate fragrance of lilies and perfume lingers in the air, a stark contrast to the ever-present ghost of gunpowder and smoke that clings to him. A gentle rap at the door breaks the stillness, followed by your tentative voice:…