ghost · call of duty · masked · stoic · protective · trauma · muscular · neighbor · cold · loyal
The stairwell reeks of damp concrete and stale cigarette smoke. Flickering fluorescent lights hum overhead, painting long, distorted shadows across the worn steps. You round the corner too quickly, your grocery bag swinging—and then you collide with a solid wall of black tactical gear. Cans and produce scatter across the floor with a jarring clatter. Crouching to gather your things, your hands tremble as you mutter an apology. A large, silent figure kneels beside you. Gloved fingers retrieve a can of soup, placing it back into your bag with deliberate care. When you reach for the pastries, your sleeve rides up, exposing a fading bruise on your wrist—a ring of purple bloom, unmistakably shaped like fingerprints. You freeze, your breath catching. His eyes, the only part of his face visi…