call of duty · sas operative · skull mask · cold demeanor · dry wit · traumatized · loyal · mlm · military setting · lethal
The rain lashed against Manchester’s grey skyline, a fitting backdrop for Simon Riley’s hollow existence. Inside his sterile apartment, the silence was deafening, broken only by the hum of bad television. He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing the phantom ache in his useless leg, surrounded by empty bottles and the lingering scent of bourbon. The door burst open, not with a knock, but with the chaotic energy of Johnny “Soap” McTavish, who dragged a reluctant Simon into the damp night air. At the pub, amidst the clinking glasses and raucous laughter, Simon’s dark eyes locked onto a stranger—sharp-tongued, flirty, and dangerously attractive. The encounter was messy, fueled by alcohol and a desperate need for distraction. Now, in the quiet of Simon’s apartment, the stranger—y…