“Uncle Si!” your voice rang out in the crowd, he’d recognize it anywhere. The same tall-tale pitch that haunted his dreams whenever he was far from home, the one that brought him back. Your arms suddenly wrapped around his chest in a burly hug that the man should’ve expected. Your bags were long abandoned at your feet. 

“Nice t’ see you too kid.” The man gruffed out as he ruffled your hair. “Flight go okay?” 

“Yeah there was a bit of turbulence, nothing too ugly.” You responded as you let eachother go from the embrace. “Why’d I fly out to your base again?” 

“Because I wanted you to see what the big kids do here.” 

“Hey! Don’t go all recruiter on me!” You shot back. In the deepest parts of his heart, something broke in Simon. He would never want this life for you, it’s why he ran to the farthest parts of the world, to make sure you don’t see what keeps you safe. He swallowed his worries as the sound of his trunk slamming brought him back again. 

“Go somewhere besides here?” You questioned as you both entered his car. 

“Hm?”

“Want to go somewhere besides here?” You spoke again, an eyebrow raised. 

“Yeah, just give me a minute to start ‘er up.” Simon spoke again. 

“You and this old girl.” You laughed as the engine of Simon’s old truck roared to life. 

The drive back to base was silent, save for Simon’s vintage rock playlist that overpowered the sound of the engine as you drove. You didn’t miss how he slipped on a mask once you pulled up to base and the man let him in, without even needing his ID. He let you unpack your belongings in the 5-star hotel bedroom that was a spare barrack room. You both caught up over dinner before he sent you to bed. 

“Simon, I’m not tired I swear!” You whined as your eyelids fluttered with the promise of sleep. 

“I don’t have a bedtime story for you.” Simon spoke as he walked you into the room, he bristled at the idea of you sleeping here, somewhere that he only found a base level of comfort in. 

“Good, your bedtime stories were always scary.” You responded as you got under the covers. 

“Lights out, kid. One of my sergeants will come and pick you up in the morning. Don’t wander too far from him.” Simon said as he turned around to flicker off the light, but you were already asleep. 

Morning came early as a fist banged on your door, rowdy laughter barely contained by the frames of it. 

“Wakey Wakey Riley Jr!” A deep voice called out, one you only recognized from years of being around it.

“I’m up.” You clipped, not ready to deal with the twins of terror. You swung open the door, still clad in your comic pjs and a loose hoodie. 

“Aye there’s the little lassie.” Johnny grinned as he saw you. The Scotsman leaned on the left side of the door as Kyle leaned on the right. 

“We’ve been tasked with babysitting you today.” Kyle said softly, noticing how you turned away from the brashness of his fellow man. A groan left your lips as you walked into the bathroom, leaving to brush your teeth and collect your bearings for the full day ahead. 

Even over the sound of running water, you could hear Johnny looking through your open belongings. A sharp shiver running down your spine as you heard the crisp crackle of a book spine giving away. 

“Don’t touch that!” You barked out as Kyle gripped the photo album, but it was already too late. Photos on photos spilled out, full of your adventures but an old polaroid was the interest of the twins. 

Johnny swiped it before you could. The two sergeants holding it just out of your grasp as they studied it.

It was definitely an older photo, but a fonder one. Simon was holding the camera in a selfie position, his mask long gone and a glimmer still in his eyes. The man’s buzz cut blonde hair was grown out and he was smiling all big and gummy in the photo. Next to him was a scrappy looking kid, a few teeth missing but still returning the glow of youth to the older man. You were wearing a birthday hat as you held up a German shepard puppy in your arms, the unmistakable ribbon wrapped around its neck. The photo was captioned, ‘The Newest Riley :)’ with a few sharpie doodles on the edges. Simon looked down on you with so much love, the sergeants almost wondered if it was the same man they had bled with in the field.

As Johnny’s grip loosened while he studied it, you snatched it back. Kyle gave you the book willingly as he helped you pick up the photos. A sigh left your lips as you growled out to both the men. 

“Don’t touch my stuff.” You spoke, both of them looking like kicked puppies as you set everything back on your bed.

You didn’t speak again even as you watched the two sergeants lead recruits in sparring. Your brain is filled with the memories of each birthday. Simon always found a way to show up, that birthday he had given you Riley, your treasured guard dog to protect you when Simon couldn’t. She was much older now but you still kept the collar and ribbon that Simon had gifted you with. The stink of the room didn’t even bother you now as you watched recruits slamming each other into the mats, the image of a younger Simon being one of those men made your heart lurch. So lost in thought, you didn’t realize that the recruits had been dismissed. 

“Teach me how to do that.” You spoke. Kyle and Johnny froze as they exchanged a look. 

“Now lassie-”

“Teach me.” You insisted, a fire burning in your eyes. Johnny recognized that same look in your uncle as he looked at you. 

“I’ll teach you since Johnny isn’t the most gentle.” Kyle offered. You both made your way to the mat as Kyle talked you through it. 

“Now I’m not gonna go too hard ok-?” Before Kyle could finish, his back hit the mat, your legs had shot out and taken out his own. You stood above him with an amusing look. 

The sound of slamming against the matts bothered Simon as he passed by the recruits. They were leaving so who was in there? 

His answer came as he walked in and saw Kyle’s arms around your neck in a chokehold. His body filled with panic seeing you in danger. You were stuck helplessly in the choke. 

“Oi! The hell are you doing?-” Simon shouted out. Panic quickly filled Kyle’s body as he released you. 

“It was the lassie’s idea-” Johnny was quickly shut up as a glare was shot at him by both of the Riley’s 

“My idea of babysitting wasn’t throwing around my n-” Simon was then shut up as your voice rung out. 

“It was my idea! I wanted to learn how to do a couple of takedowns.” You spoke. Simon didn’t respond as he motioned for the two sergeants to leave, the men scrambling out. A silence filled the air as you stared at him, the stillness of the room causing Simon to let out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing. 

“Why? Didn’t I teach you enough?” Simon responded.

“I just wanted to have some fun-” Simon cut you off again 

“That’s your idea of fun?” Simon shot back. 

“Yes it is!” You faltered in your words and Simon saw straight through your lie. 

“The truth. Now.” Simon spoke. 

“I saw the recruits fighting and I just wanted to know what it was like when you went through it.” you said meekly, crumbling under the mans gaze. Simon’s heart ached again at that. He noticed how you crumbled away from him, just like you did on the first day he met you after the accident. 

“Get up.” Simon said. 

“What?” Your shackles are raised.

“Get up.” Simon said, you slowly got up only to be yanked into Simon’s chest. His warmth embracing you as your shackles lowered and you melted.

“I’m sorry.” Simon spoke into the silence. “I’m sorry for making you come here, letting you see what I went through. I’m sorry for not being there.” 

“It’s okay.” You responded, “you’re here now.”