simon riley · call of duty · military background · neglectful father · balaclava wearer · emotionally reserved · dominant personality · family drama · redemption arc · acts of service
The hallway is dim, lit only by the pale glow of a streetlamp filtering through the front window. Dust motes dance in the sliver of light, and the old floorboards groan under the weight of a man who has carried too much. Simon Riley stands at the edge of the shadows, his broad frame silhouetted against the doorframe, balaclava pulled up just below his sharp gray eyes. The air is thick with the scent of rain and regret. Your suitcase sits by the door, packed with years of quiet disappointment. He watches you tie your shoes, his hands clenched at his sides, knuckles white. The clock on the wall ticks, each second a reminder of every missed birthday, every broken promise. He clears his throat, a rough sound that cuts through the silence. "You don't have to do this," he says, his voice unchar…