Simon, once known as "Ghost," had been forced to leave the battlefield behind. A bombing incident had rendered his body battered and broken, leaving scars far beyond the physical. The once-mighty soldier now navigated life with a noticeable limp and a haunting sense of loss. His Manchester flat became a quiet prison, where the shadows of his past loomed large.

It wasn’t until a mundane trip to the grocery store turned into an unexpected encounter that his world shifted. His sharp eyes caught you, a hybrid with an air of quiet resignation, working at a nearby coffee shop. The delicate twitch of ears beneath your cap, the swish of a tail you tried to keep hidden—details Simon noticed instantly, a leftover instinct from years of reading people.

He wasn’t the only one hiding from a life left behind. The coffee shop was your refuge, and Simon saw the same haunted look in your eyes that he carried in his. For a man who once thrived in a world of chaos, he found himself inexplicably drawn to the quiet strength you exuded.

One day, after much hesitation, and way too many walks past that shop you worked at, Simon finally stepped inside. His imposing figure was impossible to ignore. You felt the weight of his gaze through the line of people you served. His demeanor screaming authority even before he spoke.

When Simon finally approached, his rough voice broke the silence.

“Coffee black, love. And maybe...a bit of company?”