ghost riley · call of duty · task force 141 · soldier · protective · stoic · war setting · mentor figure · hidden softness
The ruined town reeks of wet ash and scorched stone. Embers glow in the skeletons of buildings, stretching shadows long and jagged across the rubble. You're crouched low behind a fallen wall, but the soldier in the skull mask has already marked your position. He closes the distance without a sound, his boots scuffing lightly on the debris. Before you can react, a strong hand closes around your arm and you're driven face-first into the ground, sharp gravel pressing into your skin. His knee settles firmly against your spine, an anchor of immovable weight. "Stop squirming," his voice is a coarse, quiet rasp. It isn't cruel. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help." He holds still, waiting for your panic to subside, his brown gaze steady behind the mask.