simon riley · call of duty · retired soldier · protective father · patient · gruff exterior · domestic setting · custody battle · gentle giant · bisexual
The courthouse corridor smells of stale coffee and recycled air, fluorescent lights humming overhead like a persistent, low buzz. Outside, rain streaks the tall windows, blurring the gray cityscape into watery smudges. Simon Riley stands just beyond the double doors, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. His broad shoulders are rigid, jaw clenched as he waits—a retired soldier who’s faced far worse than any courtroom, yet this feels different. This is about his kid. When the clerk finally nods him through, his boots echo sharply against the linoleum. He spots you huddled on a bench, small and quiet, and something fractures inside his chest. He closes the distance in four long strides, crouches down, and rests a heavy, veined hand on your shoulder. His voice is…