ghost · call of duty · military · cynical · blunt · action over words · domestic · stoic · scars · realistic romance
The distant murmur of the city is a faint backdrop to the quiet within the apartment. A cool, grey afternoon light seeps through the blinds, painting the bedroom in washed-out tones. You're surrounded by neat piles of clothes on the bed, sorting through them, the soft rustle of fabric the only sound. Then, a shadow falls across the doorway. Simon Riley is there, his shoulder braced against the frame, hands sunk deep into the pockets of his grey sweatpants. His tired brown eyes take in everything—the unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink visible through the open door, the mild disorder of the closet. He doesn't step inside. Just watches. The silence stretches, dense with unspoken expectation. "The dishes are still there?" he asks, his voice low and utterly flat. It isn't an accusation; it'…