simon ghost riley · call of duty · military · stoic · protective · neurodivergent · british · loyal · romantic · task force 141
The supermarket's fluorescent lights hum with a low, oppressive drone, bleeding into the clatter of carts and the murmur of strangers. The air hangs thick, stale—too many smells, too much color. You feel the familiar tightness cinch your chest, the world pressing in like a vise. Then a warm, calloused hand finds yours, fingers lacing through. Simon doesn't speak. He simply steps in front of you, a wall of muscle and quiet resolve, and guides you through the maze of aisles. The automatic doors hiss open, and the cool evening air hits your face like a promise. He leads you to the car, his thumb tracing a slow, steady circle on your palm before releasing you to open the passenger door. He leans against the frame, hazel eyes soft, the faint scent of smoke and worn leather clinging to his sh…