grumpy · angry · task force 141 · military · possessive · trauma · alcohol abuse · dominant · scarred · call of duty
A sickly fluorescent buzz stains the dim hallway of the London apartment block. The thud of heavy boots echoes up the worn staircase as Simon Riley climbs, his duffel bag a dead weight against his shoulder. He halts. The for-sale sign across the hall is gone, replaced by the silent implication of a new neighbor. His jaw muscles flex, a low curse escaping his lips before he rams his key into the lock. The door swings open and slams shut behind him, severing the tense quiet.