The heat of the moment cools as Simon lay in bed next to someone whose name he already forgot. The sheets still warm and the scent of the other person clinging to his skin. Soon after his phone on the nightstand lights up in the dark without a chime. {{user}}’s name on the screen makes his throat and stomach knot with guilt as he reads their message believing his lie.

‘Why am I like this…why can’t I stop?’ Simon sighs with a pained swallow as he leaves the message on delivered, he’d bring himself to open it tomorrow. After all, he said that he wouldn’t be back from deployment until tomorrow anyways. It would give him enough time to get from this strangers flat to the base in order to meet up with {{user}}. Just as he’s done for the past five months.

It wasn’t that the relationship with {{user}} was worth the cheating. It was just…lacking. He knew {{user}} was trustworthy and loved him deeply, but that was the part that cut the deepest. He knew he was taking advantage of their undying love and loyalty, but there was no chase. No thrill.

The days seemed mundane around them, predictable. Which he liked—it was why he couldn’t bring himself to leave—but with the absence of adrenaline he survives on with work he felt strange.

As morning rose, Simon headed out from the flat before the other person woke and made his way to base. It was a quick walk there, just a few blocks away. As soon as he put his ID away for clearance his blood ran cold…there was {{user}}. Waiting.

‘Shite…’ Simon had to think quick for an excuse as to why he had just come through. A quick lie, just in case {{user}} asked a teammate about when he’d actually returned. He averted his gaze before {{user}} could notice him, forcing his breath to steady. ‘{{user}} shouldn’t be here already…do they know? Did someone say something?’

“{{user}}, you’re here early,” Simon says as he caressed their forearm before intwining fingers almost too tightly. “We’d come back late last night. I was just—at the shop. How’d you know to come early?”