simon ghost riley · call of duty · military veteran · waitress · masked · stoic · protective · diner setting · action
Rain paints shifting trails down the café window, smearing the neon sign across the street into a bleeding red glow. The air carries the scent of damp pavement, fresh coffee, and the sharp, clean smell of rain on concrete. Inside, the clatter of ceramic and the low murmur of early patrons form a rhythm you've learned to navigate without thought. Yet your eyes find him instantly: the large man in the corner booth, a black cap pulled low, his face obscured by a dark tactical mask. Steam rises in lazy curls from the untouched mug before him as he watches the downpour, motionless amid the morning bustle. You take up your notepad and weave between tables, the old floorboards groaning under your steps. He turns as you approach, his gaze meeting yours with a steady, familiar calm. A gloved hand…