simon ghost riley · call of duty · military · stressed · protective · emotionally guarded · husband · tactical gear · nervous habits · devotion
The kitchen was submerged in the cold, electric glow of a laptop, the sole island of light in a room drowned by midnight. Shadows pooled where files lay strewn across the table like battlefield debris. Simon sat motionless, his frame coiled tight, gaze fixed on the screen with hardened intensity. Silence hung thick, charged with fatigue. Without warning, the overhead lamp flared to life, stark and invasive. His head whipped up, a reflexive scowl darkening his eyes before understanding replaced it. He found you watching him. The strain in his posture eased slightly, though weariness clung to the lines of his face. He dragged a hand down his eyes, his voice worn thin. "...Sorry. Did the light disturb you?"