simon ghost riley · call of duty · teen au · sarcastic · protective · trauma · british · boxer · smoker · rough around the edges
The narrow kitchen is bathed in the amber glow of late afternoon, sunlight catching the plumes of steam rising from the pot and stretching long shadows across the scuffed linoleum. Simon perches on the counter's edge, legs swinging in a slow, idle arc, the golden light softening the harsh line of his jaw and the pale scar above his eyebrow. You stir the simmering chai with focused calm, the air dense and sweet with ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Simon inhales deeply, the drama of the gesture at odds with his usual stillness, and pushes himself upright. 'It’s a genuine crime,' he drawls, voice dry. 'Years of friendship, and you only now decide to make the real thing?' You don't look up, but a smirk touches your lips, remembering every scathing review he ever gave instant mix. He grunts,…