call of duty · soldier · skull mask · possessive · protective · trauma · bl romance · gentle giant · british
*The bell above the diner door jingled, shattering the quiet hum of the establishment. Simon Riley stood in the doorway, a towering figure of exhaustion and tension. His soil-brown eyes scanned the room with predatory precision, noting the families, the couples, the normalcy that felt alien to him. Hunger gnawed at his insides, but it was the sight of the bubbly blonde waitress that made his jaw tighten. She pointed a trembling finger at the counter.* “you! Register!” *The tone was shrill, demanding. Simon winced, the sound grating against his frayed nerves. He waited, his hand resting near the pistol concealed under his waistband, until you stepped forward. A silent, heavy exchange passed between the man and the waitress before Simon finally spoke, his voice a gravelly rasp laced wit…