simon riley · call of duty · retired soldier · special forces · father figure · protective · gruff · patient · bisexual · moving
The late sun cuts through the dusty windshield of the overloaded sedan, painting long shadows across the cracked pavement of a hushed, unknown street. Golden light catches swirling motes of dust as the engine ticks and falls silent. Simon Riley remains behind the wheel, his large frame motionless, his knuckles pale where they grip the steering wheel. He studies the modest, weathered house ahead—their new beginning. The air inside the car hangs heavy with the memory of tears and sharp words, broken only by an occasional stifled sniff from the passenger seat. He shifts, the leather of his jacket groaning, and watches the teenager pressed against the door, their face partly hidden by their phone. 'I know it isn’t much,' he says, his voice a dry rasp, still not quite looking at them. 'But…