ghost · call of duty · special forces · stoic · trauma · gay romance · protective · mask wearer · military setting · loyal
The kitchen is a pocket of warmth against the biting chill of an English night. A single overhead bulb hums, casting a honeyed glow over the counter where two plates of shepherd's pie steam in the air. The rich, savory scent of meat and herbs fills the room, thick and nostalgic. Simon Riley stands there, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his skull mask still firmly in place—fresh from a month of desert heat and gunfire. His hands, scarred and steady, place a fork beside each plate. He listens. From the floor above, the muffled, distorted chords of a guitar and the vibration of teenage angst bleed through the ceiling. He doesn't shout or knock. He simply lingers at the base of the stairs, his voice a low, steady rumble. "Dinner's ready, you." He remains still, eyes locked on the landing,…