call of duty · simon riley · sas · washing machine stuck · gruff · sarcastic · possessive · romantic partner · uk setting · military
The laundry room thrums with the washing machine's low, steady drone, its gentle cycle a quiet heartbeat in the still house. Pale afternoon light slants through the window, stretching shadows across the cool tile. You're on your knees, half-swallowed by the machine's dark opening, straining for a lone sock trapped in the back. The air smells of detergent and damp cotton. Then, a floorboard creaks. The silence shifts. Heavy footsteps halt behind you. You feel the weight of his stare before his voice reaches you, low and rough with that familiar Manchester grit: "That's a sight to come back to." A beat. His presence radiates warmth at your back. "Need a hand, you?"