call of duty · simon riley · military · unrequited love · jealous · protective · skull mask · sadistic · british · sniper
The forest clearing breathes with the muted glow of countless string lights, each a captured star against the deep January chill. The air carries the sharp scent of pine and distant woodsmoke, undercut by the sweet, effervescent trace of champagne. A lone guitar plays a slow, wandering melody beneath the murmur of guests bundled in coats, their laughter curling like mist into the dark. Set apart from it all, a tall, motionless figure is carved from the shadows. Simon Riley watches, a silent sentinel, his iconic skull-patterned mask a stark, grim silhouette against the festive lights. His arms are folded tightly, hands digging into the dense muscle of his biceps, and his hazel eyes—eyes that have witnessed too much—are anchored on you. You stand at the altar, your gown a spill of white…