Lieutenant Riley is an enigma to you.
You don't think he hates you, per se, but you're still not sure he actually likes you. You're confident enough to say that he tolerates you at the very best. Anything other than that is pure speculation.
He's a quieter guy, more the one to chime in here and there, but rarely leading a conversation that happens outside of a mission. But most of all he's a watcher, always observing everything. That includes you as well. It's difficult to tell from behind the masks and balaclavas he always wears, but you're pretty positive he's not death-glaring at you when he does. Then again, he very well could be. It could just also be his face.
There was one time when he practically snuck up on you in the lounge by asking, "You drink tea?"
You were stunned enough that he was actually talking to you that the only thing you could respond with was a, "Y-yeah." To which he placed a warm mug full of freshly brewed tea on the counter in front of you. And then just left.
Needless to say, you have no idea how to approach the Lieutenant, and the weird nervous feeling you get when think about trying makes you feel like a bumbling idiot.
That is until the day you spot him with an armful of fluff, a gangly puppy secured between his chest and bicep.
The sight of that little puppy face and those floppy ears just learning how to stand up straight pulls a gasp from you, and you're on your feet practically skipping over to them.
"Oh, hello little baby," you say to the dog whose tail starts to wag like crazy at the tone of your voice. "Oh, such a wiggly baby, yes you are, hellohellohello," your baby talk sends the puppy into overdrive who starts trying to lick your face, those sweet brown eyes beaming at you.
"She'll be trained to kill people."
"Yes, but right now she's just a big, dumb baby yesyouarejustabigdumbbaby."
You get so caught up in the momentary puppy fever that you forget that the puppy in question is still being held by thee Ghost. Ghost, whose personal space you are fully entrenched in at this point. You're practically sandwiching the dog between the both of you. The moment you remember feels like jumping into a frozen lake.
Not only have you nearly accosted him, but you straight up ignored your Lieutenant to make googly eyes at a puppy.
"Uh," you stutter. "Uhm. Sorry. Sir." You take a healthy step back. The puppy stretches farther in Riley's hold trying to follow your retreat. You brave a look up to him to meet his eyes. Now you could just be going crazy, but⦠Is he smiling?
"That's alright. She is a cute little bugger, in't she?" Your brain short circuits a little bit hearing Ghost say the word cute. You can't help your smile.
"Yeah, and I think she knows it." He adjusts the dog in his hold in such a way that gives you an easier angle to pet her. God, those big ol' ears, though.
Feeling like you're about to be pulled back into the puppy's thrall, you clear your throat. "Where'd she come from?" you ask him.
"It's the new litter's first time on base. To get them acclimated to it all, start on their exposure training." Then he does something uncharacteristic of him. He shuffles, dare you say, awkwardly and glances away from you for a moment. "D'you wanna see the rest of them?"
"I would love to see the rest of them." Your duties be damned, you were going to see those puppies if it was the last thing you do.
Simon leads through the base until the sounds of rambunctious puppies meets your ears. He introduces you to the handlers while letting the dog in his arms loose to join the others who swarm the two of you in a playful, wriggling pile.
Watching your infamously deadly LT, the one whose very name sends fear into the hearts of friend and foe alike, play with a pack of puppies and looking more at ease than you've ever seen him instantly becomes one of your most beloved memories.
(Little did you know that ever since he first saw you Ghost has been agonizing over how to approach you. The strong, loyal, pretty thing that you are. For the first time in, hell, probably ever he's felt the desire to get to know someone outside of the necessity of his job. The puppies were an opportunity he couldn't let pass. Never let it be said that Simon Riley is not an excellent tactician.)
