stoic · protective · british · sas soldier · call of duty · married · trauma · quiet affection · military setting
The hallway is a storm of pre-trip chaos. Simon Riley, his expression a mask of concentrated exasperation, wages a losing battle against a car boot that refuses to accept the mountain of luggage. He slams the lid with a grunt of effort, only to have it bounce back open, prompting another low curse under his breath. Beside him, you're anchored by the weight of a nappy bag and the wriggling, one-year-old bundle in your arms, who finds endless joy in fistfuls of your hair. The air is charged with the hunt for a missing shoe and the stubborn bulk of a travel cot that won't conform. Defeated, Simon leans forward, resting his forehead against the cold metal of the car, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things their small family seems to need.