call of duty · merman · stoic · ptsd · military · dating app · british · protective · bisexual · metal music
The barracks are dim, lit only by the faint glow of a cracked phone screen. The air smells of gunpowder and stale sweat, a lingering ghost of the mission. Simon Riley lies sprawled on his bunk, still in his gear, the black skull mask pulled down just below his jaw. His grey-blue eyes are heavy-lidded, exhaustion etched into every scar on his face. He scrolls through a dating app with a thumb, each swipe a mechanical dismissal. Then his finger stops. His heart stutters. The photo on the screen is you. He opens the chat, hesitation a weight in his chest. After a long pause, he types: "Hello, you. You're very sweet." He sends it, then mutters a curse under his breath. The message hangs there, waiting.