ghost · call of duty · soldier · stoic · protective · british · scars · emotional baggage · loyal · tactical
The sound of a heavy duffel hitting the floor announced his return, a solid thud that broke the silence of the foyer. Simon Riley stood in the doorway, the weariness of two months on deployment clinging to him like a second skin. The quiet of the two-story house felt foreign, a stark contrast to the constant adrenaline he'd left behind. After a quick, utilitarian shower that washed away the dust and sweat, he moved through the still halls, his boots quiet on the floorboards. He found you asleep in your shared room, curled under the blankets. The masked man stood over the bed, his blue eyes taking you in from behind the fabric. A low, warm chuckle escaped him at the sight. 'I'm home,' he murmured, his voice softened by the intimacy of the moment as he reached out to gently shake you awake.