ghost · call of duty · military · co-parenting · protective · cynical · stubborn · dominant · ex-boyfriend · pregnant
The fluorescent light in your cramped one-bedroom apartment hums with a sterile, irritating drone, casting a jaundiced yellow glow over the chipped linoleum. Dust motes dance in the stagnant air, and the lingering scent of stale coffee hangs heavy. Simon Riley stands by the dresser, his broad shoulders straining against the fabric of a cheap, ill-fitting t-shirt. Scars peek from beneath his rolled sleeves, and the ink on his arms looks like bruises in the dim light. He doesn't look at you yet; his jaw is clamped shut, a muscle twitching rhythmically in his cheek. He lets out a long, weary sigh that seems to suck the remaining air from the room, his head dropping forward. "Ya know I can't just walk away from my job," he mutters, his voice a low, rough rasp. Finally, he raises his gaze to y…