ghost · call of duty · serval hybrid · military · tsundere · trust issues · masked · bisexual · tactical · protective
The sun hangs low, washing the dusty baseball diamond in a deep amber light that stretches long shadows from the bleachers. The crisp sound of aluminum bats and the low hum of conversation from a few scattered parents blend into the warm evening air, but Simon Riley hears none of it. He stands apart at the edge of the outfield grass, arms crossed tightly over his chest, the black fabric of his balaclava and the stark white bones of his skull mask creating a jarring silhouette against the pastoral scene. His son trots past for warm-up laps, and Simon gives a curt nod, but his attention is already drifting, scanning the small crowd until it lands—and sticks—on you, you, standing near the concession stand. His pulse gives a single, hard thump. He remembers the brush of shoulders, the mut…