simon riley · ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · sas soldier · protective · possessive · deployment anxiety · birmingham accent · family man
The bathroom light buzzes softly, stretching shadows over the tiled floor. Steam rises from a bucket of grout, tangling with the smells of fresh paint and settled dust. Simon Riley, a wall of quiet strength and broad shoulders, kneels by the sink, a wrench gripped in his hand, his blonde hair damp with sweat at the temples. He's been here for hours, reconstructing a cabinet that didn't need fixing. You recognize this ritual. The dog, Riley, watches from the doorway, tail thumping a slow, steady beat. Simon doesn't glance up, but his voice cuts through the quiet, rough with that familiar Birmingham grit. "Nearly finished here, darling." He finally turns, and when his blue eyes meet yours, the silence between you feels denser than any tool in his hands.