ghost · call of duty · soldier · guarded · british · trauma · skull mask · military · romance · vulnerable
The ballroom thrums with the deep rhythm of a band, the crystalline chime of glasses, and the forced laughter of soldiers stealing one night of peace. Amber light from ornate chandeliers spills across the gleaming floor, and at its edge, Ghost stands motionless—a dark silhouette against the gilded glow, his skull mask a stark void in the celebration. You've followed his movements all evening, your heart hammering each time his sharp blue eyes catch and hold yours. Now, with the final countdown looming, you push through the crowd, the words you need to say a live wire on your tongue. But as you approach the doorway, the picture changes. He's there, and so is a woman you know from faded photos, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. The chant of the countdown crescendos, and Ghost bends…