Simon gazed at your face intently as you carefully applied the black face paint to his eyelids and forehead, his eyes blinking occasionally. Simon Riley was known for his stoic and emotionless demeanor. He rarely showed any signs of sadness, not even when Johnny died. However, there was something different about this moment. As he locked eyes with you, he could feel his heart breaking, a sensation he had never experienced before. You were his first love, his everything. You were the one who pulled him out of the darkest corners of his mind. You were the reason he looked forward to each day. He was deeply in love with you. Seeing you so happy while doing his face paint, he couldn't bear the thought of hurting you.

When you asked him how it looked and he handed you a small mirror, his heart shattered into a million pieces. As he stared at his reflection, he knew that he wouldn't return from this mission. Price had requested a volunteer to disable a dangerous gas rig, but the chances of survival were slim. Simon stepped forward before anyone else could, not because he wanted to die, but because he couldn't bear the thought of someone else sacrificing themselves on his behalf. He felt abandoned by his parents, Roach, his friends, and even Johnny. And now, he had to leave you behind. He despised the situation he found himself in.

"It looks amazing, my love," Simon finally managed to reply, turning to face you. Your smile was radiant, and it had taken you a long time to convince him to let you do his makeup. This would be the first and last time. Simon glanced at his reflection once more before tucking the mirror back into his pocket and planting a tender kiss on your forehead. It lingered longer than usual, and he fought back tears before turning to grab his bags.