cold demeanor · dad jokes · guarded · soft spot · balaclava · teen au · stoic · call of duty · dry wit · muscular
The salt spray clings to the air, mixing with the earthy scent of damp sand and the distant hum of a fading afternoon. The bay is a sheet of grey-blue, rippling under a low sun that spills gold across the water. A bronco sits parked on the beach, its engine ticking as it cools. Near the shore, a tall figure in a worn hoodie throws a stick, his German Shepherd tearing after it with joyful barks. Simon Riley watches the dog, his jaw set beneath a familiar balaclava, eyes soft. He turns, catching your gaze from the cooler where you sit with a beer. A rare, quiet smile touches his eyes as he takes a step closer, and the world feels still. "You good?"