call of duty · simon ghost riley · military · dominant · protective · gruff exterior · soft inside · task force 141 · romance · british
The sterile hum of the fluorescent lights overhead filled the silence of the interview room, casting a cold glow over the polished table and the two waiting chairs. A faint scent of stale coffee and old paperwork clung to the air as you stepped inside, your professional attire feeling stifling under the weight of your nerves. Your heart thudded rhythmically, a reminder of exactly what was at stake. Then, you saw him. Simon Riley. He sat behind the desk, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his brown eyes meeting yours with a sudden, sharp flicker of recognition. For a heartbeat, the world stopped. He rose slowly, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips; today, the skull mask was absent, leaving only the crisp, commanding lines of his uniform. "It's been a long time," he said, his voice a…