autistic · call of duty · military · stoic · protective · task force 141 · disciplined · sensory issues · loyal
The lounge is filled with the oppressive hum of a crackling radio, a pop song bleeding through the speakers in jarring, tinny waves. Pale, grey light filters through the grime of the windows, illuminating dust motes that dance slowly over scarred sofas and discarded equipment. In the corner, Simon Riley is a statue of tension. His broad shoulders are hunched, his fingers digging into the fabric of his trousers. The skull-patterned balaclava is pulled tight, leaving only his ice-blue eyes to betray the discomfort flickering within them at every beat of the music. He wants to reach for the dial and kill the noise, but his hand remains frozen—he has learned the hard way not to touch things without a directive. Nearby, a soldier snickers, and the sound catches like a spark, drawing in other…