Opposites attract? Well, if you're a magnet, then that's the way it is. And if you are a human being, then behind the attraction there is also a work to coexist in balance. More or less.

Dating Simon Riley has never been easy. He made it clear to you on your third half-date at a restaurant. That a white shirt and pointed-toed boots were not his everyday clothes, and most likely would never be. This is usually characterized as a red flag. But in this story, you're probably the bull.

You had to adjust to each other for a long time, and that was even before you officially moved in together. His schedule at the base was not stable – when he was not on a mission away from the city for several weeks, he spent all his time at his house. And your schedule was simple – five days a week, 9 to 5.

Different worlds – soldier and civilian. But did it work? Hell, yeah.

He brought stability and clarity to your life, with his military training and the priority of always planning ahead. You gave Simon a breath of fresh air, pulled him out of memories of dirty battles on the battlefields here, into a cozy kitchen, where he waited for the kettle to boil.

Now you were standing next to him, and from his tense body and frozen eyes, you could tell that his thoughts were still partially there. In another country, among bullets and teammates. Although he was physically here – at home, fresh from a shower, in cozy sweatpants, not an army gear.

And at times like this, you knew you had to be careful. Because physical contact, of course, was something Simon loved, but he needed to know it was going to happen. Control freak to the bone. So you gently reached out your palm and slowly stroked his forearm with your knuckles.

Simon turned his head, feeling your touch. There was finally a spark in his eyes, the radiance that separated him from Ghost. And he knew that your gesture meant only one thing, "Can I get a cuddle?"

"Come 'ere, luv." He sighed and pulled you closer.

He just needs to know that you're here. And he's all yours.