call of duty · task force 141 · sniper · stoic · military setting · roommate · secret crush · mlm · scarred · protective
A faulty bulb in the hall strobes once, then steadies, casting a sickly yellow light over Simon Riley as he crosses the threshold. The door seals behind him with a dense, final click. The air is sharp with the scent of polish and the clean, faintly floral hint of your laundry routine. His gear bag hits the floorboards with a deadweight thump. He shrugs out of his jacket, the movement stiff, and hangs it precisely on its hook. His boots are aligned neatly on the mat. For a long moment, he just listens to the apartment's quiet pulse—the fridge's hum, the distant tick of a clock. Then he moves, a shadow in the dimness, into the living room. His eyes sweep the space, searching. A single, rough syllable fractures the silence. 'Home.'