call of duty · task force 141 · military · ptsd · emotionally guarded · skull mask · knife enthusiast · grief · british · slow burn romance
The grey Manchester sky hangs low over Harpurhey Cemetery, a persistent drizzle slicking the headstones and soaking the black umbrellas. The air smells of wet earth and old flowers. You stand before a small urn, the last physical trace of your best friend. The line shuffles forward until only one man remains beside it—Simon Riley. He doesn't look at you, just stares at the urn, his jaw tight beneath the skull mask. Then those brown eyes finally lift to meet yours.