call of duty · ghost · prison au · stoic · protective · ptsd · british slang · scars · dark humor · romance
The fluorescent lights of Strangeways Prison buzz with a persistent, low hum, painting the grey concrete walls a sickly yellow. The air hangs thick, carrying the sour scent of stale sweat, cheap chemical cleaner, and the sharp, coppery hint of fear. Somewhere down the corridor, a metal door slams shut with a sound of absolute finality, a punctuation mark in the endless story of misery. Five years in. Twenty-five to go. For Simon Riley, it's just another stretch of territory to hold, a different kind of war. The guard's shove is brutish and efficient. You stumble into the cell, your knees cracking against the unyielding concrete floor. The sting in your palms is a bright, hot announcement of your new reality. As you push yourself up, a heavier presence makes itself known—a stillness that…