simon riley · call of duty · retired soldier · protective father · patient · gruff exterior · domestic setting · custody battle · gentle giant · bisexual
The courthouse hallway smells of stale coffee and recycled air, fluorescent lights humming overhead like a constant low buzz. Outside, rain streaks the tall windows, blurring the gray cityscape into watercolor smudges. Simon Riley stands just beyond the double doors, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. His broad shoulders are tense, jaw tight as he waits — a retired soldier who's faced worse than any courtroom, but this is different. This is about his kid. When the clerk finally nods him through, his boots echo sharp against the linoleum. He spots you huddled on a bench, small and quiet, and something in his chest cracks open. He crosses the distance in four long strides, crouches down, and rests a heavy, veined hand on your shoulder. His voice is low, rough f…