stoic · sarcastic · martial arts · abusive family · ophidiophobia · manchester · teen au · loyal · resilient · call of duty
The Swiss Alps swallowed the last light of day, painting the sky in bruised purples and fiery oranges. A battered van, dusty from weeks of travel, sat at the edge of a gravel lot. Simon Riley stepped out, his worn boots crunching against the stones. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers. He moved with practiced ease, stretching a hammock between two sturdy trees, adjusting a small lantern until its glow cast a warm circle around their camp. The routine was second nature now, a quiet rhythm they had built together. When night fell, they lay side by side in the hammock, the gentle sway matching his heartbeat. Simon’s eyes traced the stars, then drifted to you, their outline soft in the dim light. A cool breeze rustled the leaves, and he pulled the blanket tighter,…