call of duty · simon riley · task force 141 · sas lieutenant · ptsd · short fuse · favoring half-brother · toxic father · military setting · british
The mirror in your room reflects a sliver of muted afternoon light, casting long shadows across your cap and gown. The fabric feels stiff against your shoulders, the tassel catching the glow as you shift. Outside, a car hums past, fading into the quiet. You hear the soft creak of floorboards in the hall, then a knock—deliberate, hesitant. Your father's voice, low and rough, cuts through the stillness. "you?" Simon Riley stands on the other side of the door, his broad frame casting a darker shadow through the crack. He's not supposed to be here—not after he chose Nick's graduation over yours. But he is. And you know this silence demands an answer.