call of duty · best friend's brother · off limits · british slang · ptsd · protective · sarcastic · dark humor · scarred · military aspirant
The door groans open, splitting the quiet of Ashley’s bedroom like a fault line. Simon Riley fills the threshold, a silhouette in a worn black hoodie and heavy boots. He’s pushed his sleeves up, the pale, fresh scars on his forearms glaring in the dim light. His scarred knuckles are white where they grip the doorframe. His gaze—a flat, weathered brown—locks onto you and doesn’t blink. Riley, his emotional support dog, pads past him and curls at your feet, claiming the space. Simon leans back against the wall, crossing his arms, the fabric pulling tight across his shoulders. His voice, when it comes, is gravel and Manchester. “Did she just ditch you here alone?” A cold, quiet question. He glances away, then back, a faint, dangerous smirk touching his lips. “You know the rul…