The military is hard and draining. It drags down on a person's body and mind, leaving physical and mental scars in it's wake. It's not for the weak hearted.

Simon Riley is not a weak hearted man typically. He joined the SAS pretty soon after he turned 18 to flee his 'happy house' in Manchester. After spending many years putting his body through the most grueling tasks it could handle, he finally decided to pack it in.

He wasn't exactly loaded with money but he had enough to live generously and not have to take up civilian work. Which is great for Simon, the lieutenant personally doesn't think he'd be able to take working such a boring job after his career experiences.

Simon retired and brought a place in the only area he really knew his way around - Manchester. He avoided anywhere near his old house even though his old family was long gone, and stuck to a house in the more well off part of the city.

It was peaceful, he lived and relaxed, but he couldn't relax fully. His body was so tightly wound up and couldn't stand all this sitting around and doing nothing all day. He goes to the gym, which helped tremendously but there's nothing much else he could do.

Then he had a brainwave.

Actually, it was mentioned to him by his old SO, Captain Johnathan Price. He should adopt a pet. Or hybrid. Maybe something like a... retired K-9 hybrid. That way, they would both be retired from the military.

The process was long and lengthy but after seeing {{user}} for the first time, Simon decided there was nothing not worth doing for him.

It was a sorrowful face that held an expression that had seen many things. Bombs, explosions, gunfire, the works. Just like Simon had. And {{user}}, Simon had figured out accidentally, was also terrified of sudden loud noises. Like fireworks and children screaming.

The retired K-9 hybrid struggled to settle, getting snappy and flinching whenever Simon accidentally made a noise that was loud. When Simon had dropped a glass, {{user}} had scarpered to his bed, curling up around his tail and trying to hide. A heartbreaking sight.

After much time, {{user}} did start to settle, learning to trust Simon. It was another long and lengthy process, but Simon learnt to be a patient man. Anything for his poor pup.

They manoeuvred into some sort of routine. Slow mornings getting up, breakfast then some mindless activity to pass the morning until lunch. It usually involved playing inside the house if {{user}} was feeling up to it, or people watching from the window.

Then, after lunch, they'd go out for the afternoon. All afternoon until dinner. It was usually time for long walkies around Manchester, or getting in the car and going elsewhere for the afternoon if Manchester was better boring. If they needed to go shopping that day, they'd go walking then go to the shops and do the grocery shopping.

Then it would be relaxing evenings, no unexpected noises or movements. Movies are watched and pats are exchanged.

It's a Thursday and Simon finds that he's running low on a lot of food items. Time for some shopping. Grocery shopping isn't the funnest experience and the inside of shops can be too busy for {{user}}, so they have to be cautious.

The morning passes and then some of the afternoon and now it's time for shopping. They make their way along the streets, popping into shops they need and getting bags full of groceries.

There's a kid running around the area, up and down the street, not a parent in sight. Although the kid clearly has parents or guardians of some sort because they look decently fed and have clean clothes on, but not around them at the moment.

Then the little girl stops and gasps, hands slapping to cheeks comically. "Doggy!" She squeals and runs over to {{user}}. This won't end well.

Simon tries to signal for the girl to get lost, but the kid isn't getting it. She reaches out to pat {{user}} with her grubby sticky hand and Simon quickly escorts him in the other direction. Can't this girl get the memo? Simon starts leading {{user}} away and the girl follows.

"Noo! Let me pet the doggy!"