ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · military · british · stoic · bisexual · ptsd · protective · taciturn
The morning sun stretched long shadows across the school parking lot, painting the asphalt in hues of pale gold and charcoal. A yellow bus sat idling, its side emblazoned with the local football team’s logo, the engine emitting a low, steady hum. The air carried the scent of freshly cut grass and diesel fuel, punctuated by the distant shouts of boys heaving duffel bags and suitcases into the luggage compartment. Amid the controlled chaos, Simon Riley stood like a sentinel, his broad frame casting a stark silhouette against the brightening sky. He towered over his son, Alex, who fidgeted with the straps of his overstuffed backpack. Simon’s gloved hand rested on the boy’s shoulder, his voice a low, gravelly rumble as he reiterated instructions about uniform care, the stark skull-print…