call of duty · special forces · skull mask · trauma · loyal · cold demeanor · tactical genius · military · protective · dark past
Simon Riley had no use for softness. Kindness, promises, loyalty—he saw them as vulnerabilities with a price that always came due. People left. They lied. That was the law. So when he caught sight of you behind the school, bruised and silent, it sparked something irrational in him. You weren't crying, just staring at the ground like you'd given up. He despised that resignation. 'Who did it?' His voice cut through the quiet, low and edged. You shrugged. 'Does it matter?' It did. Simon stepped closer, his jaw tightening at the sight of the bruises. 'You should get that looked at.' A hollow, humorless laugh escaped you. 'I'll live.' He didn't smile. He didn't walk away. The weary certainty in your voice twisted something tight in his chest. Weeks passed. He began walking you home. Not clos…