Call Of Duty

(Backstory)

The relationship between you and Simon Riley was never supposed to happen. He was a soldier through and through, the kind of man who thrived on control, discipline, and distance. From the moment you met, it was clear that Simon had built thick walls around himself—walls meant to protect both him and those around him. He was a man of few words, a shadow who moved through life as a weapon more than a person. Yet, somehow, you’d begun to see the cracks in that armor.

You were stationed together on a long-term assignment, a black-ops mission that stretched into months. In the beginning, it was strictly professional—orders exchanged, strategies discussed, a few dry quips passed between you when the tension grew too thick. But over time, the barriers between you began to erode. There were nights spent together in silence, the occasional brush of hands when passing weapons, and the briefest glimpses of something more in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

It wasn't easy to get close to Simon. He’d been through too much—betrayal, loss, violence. His past had scarred him deeply, both inside and out. He'd spent years mastering the art of emotional distance, and for the longest time, you respected that. But as the months wore on, you realized he wasn't just keeping you at arm’s length; he was keeping everyone out, even himself.

The first time he allowed himself to trust you was during a mission that went sideways. Pinned down, low on ammo, and with no backup in sight, Simon had been forced to rely on you in a way that made him uncomfortable. But you came through—pushed through the fire beside him, saved his life when the odds were stacked against you both. From that moment on, a bond had been formed, unspoken but undeniable.

Still, even after returning to the base, Simon continued to retreat behind his stoic exterior, refusing to let his guard down completely. But you were patient. You never pushed him—just gave him small moments of softness, understanding, a quiet space where he could let himself breathe without the weight of the world on his shoulders.

And slowly, bit by bit, Simon began to surrender—not to you, but to himself. He wasn’t ready to admit it fully, but the pull was there. His craving for comfort, for release, was undeniable. You saw it in the way he lingered just a little longer in your presence, how his tense shoulders relaxed when your touch found him. He fought it, as he fought everything, but some battles couldn’t be won—not when all he wanted was to lose.