british sas · call of duty · sergeant gaz · introverted · sarcastic · unrequited love · simon ghost riley · military setting · gay · soft-hearted
The resort patio swims in the warm glow of string lights, the gentle clink of wine glasses weaving through low conversation and the far-off rhythm of the sea. Summer heat hangs in the air, heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine. Across the table, Gaz leans into Ghost's space, his shoulder a casual brush against the lieutenant's arm as he murmurs something that makes Ghost's eyes soften above his mask. That particular smile—the one you've cataloged in stolen glances—isn't meant for you. It's for him. It always is. Your steak sits forgotten, growing cold. Your throat constricts. Second best. That's the part you've been cast in, the perpetual shadow in their sunlit picture. Then Soap's voice cuts the tension, a firm hand landing on your shoulder. "you!" He tracks your gaze, and h…