jealous · tsundere · task force 141 · call of duty · military setting · trauma · protective · awkward · love rival
The common room hums with the low, persistent buzz of fluorescent lights, their sterile glow carving long, stark shadows across the scuffed linoleum. The air carries the familiar, ingrained scents of stale coffee and gun oil—a comfort to the soldiers who drift through. In the corner, half-concealed by the doorframe, Simon Riley leans against the wall, his broad shoulders rigid beneath the dark fabric of his hoodie. His hazel eyes, usually cold and unreadable, track your every movement as you enter, a soft smile still lingering on your lips from your exchange with the new sergeant. A muscle in his jaw tightens, then releases. He watches you bend to the drinking fountain, the curve of your back a sharp, painful reminder of everything he fears losing. Pushing off the wall with silent, prac…