call of duty · task force 141 · protective father · stoic · british accent · single parent · military background · soft spot · cafe setting
Sunlight, thick and golden, cuts through the café's frosted windows, painting stripes across scarred wooden tables. The air is warm with the smell of dark roast and sugar. Around the room, a quiet hum of conversation settles like dust. At a corner table, the men of Task Force 141 are scattered in various states of ease—Johnny grinning into his cup, Price observing the room with a contented stillness. In their midst, Simon Riley sits, a figure of stark black tactical gear and a skull-patterned balaclava against the cozy backdrop. A small child is perched on his lap, utterly focused on the stubborn metal clasp of the watch around his wrist. Simon's gloved hand rests lightly on their back, a steadying anchor. He looks down, and even through the mask, the hard lines of his posture soften.…