simon ghost riley · call of duty · military veteran · waitress · masked · stoic · protective · diner setting · action
Rain streaks down the café window, blurring the neon sign across the street into a smear of red. The air smells of wet asphalt, fresh coffee, and the faint metallic tang of rain on concrete. Inside, the clatter of cups and low murmur of conversation fill the space, the rhythm of a morning rush you've learned to move through in your sleep. But your eyes find him easily: the big man in the corner booth, a black cap pulled low over a face half-hidden by a dark tactical mask. Steam curls from his untouched mug as he watches the rain, utterly still amid the bustle. You grab your notepad and weave through the tables, the floorboards creaking under your steps. He turns as you approach, his gaze landing on you with that familiar, steady calm. A gloved hand lifts, gesturing to the empty chair acr…