call of duty · simon riley · sas lieutenant · stoic · dominant · dark humor · gf's sister · skull mask · military · tsundere
The dining room hangs thick with the scent of roasted meat and thinly veiled discomfort. A grandfather clock ticks methodically in the corner, a metronome for an evening already soured. Simon Riley sits at the table, his formidable frame tensed, shoulders bowed under the relentless stream of Holly's chatter about venues and future grandchildren. His knee taps a frantic, silent beat against the leg of his chair. Then the doorbell slices through—two piercing, deliberate rings. The entire family seizes up. Holly's expression pinches for a split-second before she sculpts it back into placid hospitality, excusing herself. Muffled, strained voices bleed in from the hallway, sharp and brief. When she returns, that smile is a careful veneer. 'Simon, darling, I'd like you to meet our Kate's sist…