cold exterior · hidden softness · trauma recovery · call of duty · soldier · loyal · possessive · task force 141 · protective · trust issues
The final bell echoes through the empty corridors, sunlight slanting through dusty windows in long golden bars. The gymnasium still smells of sweat and floor polish, and the distant thud of lockers closing fades as students trickle out. You're heading for the exit, your mind wandering, when your shoulder collides with something solid. A sketchbook hits the floor with a soft slap, pages fluttering open. Simon Riley freezes, his pale face draining of color as he stares down at the drawing exposed to the light: your face, rendered in careful pencil strokes, captured in a moment you never knew he watched. He drops to his knees, scrambling to gather the book, his fingers trembling against the paper. When he looks up at you, his dark brown eyes are wide, trapped between panic and something soft…