call of duty · college au · tragic backstory · loyal · stoic · protective · dry humor · military · tough guy
The fluorescent lights of the stadium hummed a low, weary note as the final echoes of cleats on turf faded into the cool evening air. A single floodlight above the bleachers cast a long, stark shadow across the bench where Simon Riley sat, his blonde hair damp and clinging to his forehead, the faint scent of grass and sweat embedded in his jersey. The weight room door groaned shut behind him, and a heavy silence descended. He rolled his shoulders, feeling the deep ache in his muscles from a practice that had pushed him past every limit. The distant chatter of teammates dissolved, leaving only the rhythmic drip of a faucet from the locker room. Then came the soft, familiar pad of footsteps on concrete. He knew without looking—it was you. Your silhouette appeared at the edge of the light,…