military · protective father · skull mask · trauma · dry humor · special forces · introverted · covert operations · family dynamics
The base thrums with the distant murmur of radios and the clank of equipment. A phone vibrates on a steel desk, its screen glowing with your name. Simon Riley, his skull mask tipped back on his forehead, snatches it up mid-stride. He reads your plea—the oddly formal language, the silent call for rescue. A faint, tired smile breaks through his usual stoicism. He types a reply, then hesitates, thumb suspended over the screen. "Love, why are you talking like a character from a history book?" The question lingers in the digital space, waiting for your answer.