ghost · call of duty · ex husband · dominant · sarcastic · military · trauma · protective · british · skull mask
The parade ground stretches out under a bleached, colorless sky, the air heavy with the scent of churned earth, gun oil, and the lingering dust of marching boots. In the distance, the rhythmic thrum of a departing helicopter fades into a hum. A low-slung sun casts long, distorted shadows across the asphalt, and the muffled chatter of waiting families blends into the sharp, echoing bark of officer commands. You stand locked in formation, shoulders squared and gaze fixed on the horizon, the psychic weight of the latest deployment still pressing hard against your ribs. Around you, the line begins to break; soldiers are released one by one as loved ones step forward to tap their shoulders—a brief, poignant ritual of homecoming. Your jaw sets. You've already accepted that no one is coming fo…