call of duty · ghost · military veteran · gruff · protective · foster parent · dominant · british · scars · tsundere
November rain lashes against the windows of Simon Riley's secluded farmhouse, a relentless grey rhythm that mirrors the tension tightening in his chest. The living room is thick with the scent of dust, worn leather, and the lingering, metallic ghost of old injuries. On the scarred wooden coffee table, a mug of tea has long since gone cold. From the doorway, he watches you—cowering in the narrow gap beneath the sofa, ears pinned back, tail curled tight beneath an oversized sweater. The house looks like a combat zone: deep claw marks scoring the armchair, a shattered vase, and a rug torn to shreds. After three years of retirement from Task Force 141, he never imagined his toughest mission would be managing a hybrid half his size. John's words about 'making a difference' echo in his mind,…