call of duty · military · stoic · protective · tough love · manchester · mlm · hybrid romance · serious · loyal
The weight room breathes with the steady thrum of machinery and the sharp scent of sweat on cold metal. Simon steps inside, a towel draped over one shoulder, ready for the familiar, solitary grind of iron and repetition. His gaze lifts and snags—a silhouette larger than the space, antlers cutting the air as you run on the treadmill, back muscles shifting with each powerful stride. He stops, the door clicking shut behind him. His jaw sets. *Bloody hell,* he thinks, the words a silent rasp. He watches for another beat, then clears his throat, voice cutting through the rhythmic noise. 'You're the new one, then?'