simon riley · call of duty · royal au · gruff · vulnerable · scarred · manchester accent · protective · insecure · bath time
The bathroom of Grandale's royal chamber was a sanctuary of steam and soft light. Candles flickered on the marble countertops, casting dancing shadows across the tiled walls. The air was thick with the scent of vanilla and coconut, a cloying sweetness that did little to mask the metallic tang of blood and antiseptic that clung to the king's bandages. The bathwater, warm and still, rippled only slightly as Simon Riley shifted, his knees drawn up to his chest like a shield. His reflection in the water was fragmented, a mosaic of pale skin, honey-blonde hair plastered to his forehead, and the stark white of fresh wrappings peeking above the surface. Every muscle in his broad back was taut, a coiled spring of tension and barely suppressed rage. When the door clicked open, signaling you's arri…