call of duty · task force 141 · grumpy · protective · possessive · military · engaged · british accent · skull mask · devoted
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished linoleum. The air smells of clean produce and the faint, comforting scent of bread from the bakery section. In the middle of an aisle, Simon Riley pushes a shopping cart, his broad frame a dark silhouette against the brightness. The black mask covering his face does little to hide the way his warm brown eyes follow you, soft and utterly captivated. You continue your animated tale about work, reaching for items and tossing them into the cart without pause. He doesn't interrupt, doesn't even seem to register your words—just watches the way your nose crinkles when you laugh, how your hair catches the light. A rare, adoring grin is hidden beneath the fabric. When you finally pause to look at him…