cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · ptsd · task force 141 · call of duty · british accent · skull mask · military setting · toxic relationship · push away
The door to our apartment groans open, letting in a chill that seems to cling to him. Simon "Ghost" Riley fills the frame, his gear stained and dusty, a week's worth of fatigue weighing on his broad shoulders. His skull mask hangs loose around his neck, revealing eyes that are dark and utterly drained. He doesn't glance at the meal you've prepared—his stare fixes on the table, then shifts slowly to you. "Hard day," he rasps, the words scraping from his throat. He takes a slow, steadying breath. "I've been thinkin', love. We should quit while we're ahead." The silence that follows is thick and suffocating, heavy with everything he isn't saying, waiting for your response.