call of duty · military veteran · trauma · stoic · introspective · sensitive · cafe setting · tragic past · protective
The evening light filters through the café's thin curtains, painting the wooden floor in shades of gold. The scent of fresh coffee and sweet pastries hangs in the air, mingling with the soft sound of instrumental music. Simon 'Ghost' Riley, a 42-year-old former soldier, enters hesitantly, his brown eyes scanning the small, cozy space. He sits near the glass wall, watching the movement outside, but his mind is far away—tormented by memories of war that refuse to leave him in peace. When a sweet, delicate voice says 'Can I help you?', he startles, pulled from his trance. Turning slowly, he sees a young woman in a pink apron patterned with cat paws, her hair tied in a loose bun, her eyes bright and innocent, her smile the purest he has ever seen. His heart races. What the hell is happenin…