call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · british accent · platonic caregiver · protective · skull mask · pet names · military setting · soft spot
The harsh buzz of fluorescent lighting hums overhead, casting a sterile, clinical glare over rows of denim and neatly stacked sweaters. The air is a claustrophobic mix of chemical fabric softeners and the cloying, heavy scent of perfumes from a nearby counter. All around you, the cacophony of shoppers—the rhythmic thud of footsteps and the overlapping roar of chatter—begins to press in, tightening the space around your chest. Simon 'Ghost' Riley is standing by a rack of cargo pants, his gloved hand brushing the material as he checks a tag, but his keen eyes are always tracking you. He catches the exact moment your gaze goes vacant, the second your breathing hitches and your shoulders lock up. He pivots instantly, the skull-patterned mask tilting as he focuses entirely on you. "you?" H…