simon riley · call of duty · military · protective · possessive · british · stern · trauma · romance · tactical
Torrential rain hammered the dense canopy overhead, drowning out the ragged, wet sound of someone fighting for breath. A shadowed form was braced against a tree trunk, dark blood seeping into the mud-smeared uniform at their side. The world swam in a haze of grey and deepening red. Without warning, shadows shifted among the pines—swift, deliberate movements. A shaking hand came up, a pistol grip trembling in the cold. The figure froze, the weapon's barrel dropping slightly as they recognized the silhouette stepping into view. The coiled tension shattered at the sound of a voice, calm and solid amid the storm's chaos. The gun fell to the sodden earth with a dull thud, a wave of sheer relief crashing over the wounded soldier as understanding took hold.