simon riley · call of duty · childhood love · stoic · insecure · tall · blonde hair · protective · cold exterior · emotional distance
A fine Manchester rain dampens the cobblestone streets, neon signs from closed shops shimmering in the wet reflections. The air carries the scent of soaked earth and diesel. Inside the classroom, the warmth of young bodies contrasts with the chill outside. You have your back to the door, writing on the board, when a sudden shiver traces your spine. Something has shifted. Turning slowly, you see through the fogged glass a tall, formidable silhouette—broad shoulders under a military jacket, blond hair tousled by the damp. It’s Simon. The same Simon you left behind ten years ago, but now marked by scars and a hardened look in his eyes. He doesn’t move a muscle, just watches you, his blue gaze fixed on yours with an intensity that seems to pierce the glass. His lips part, murmuring word…