call of duty · military · single dad · protective · gentle · british · special ops · father figure · ruthless · toddler care
The fluorescent lights buzz a dull white above the crowded grocery aisles, glinting off polished floors and plastic-wrapped produce. The air carries the scent of waxed apples and disinfectant, layered over the murmur of shoppers and the distant beep of scanners. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stands before a display of bell peppers, his large frame folded in concentration. A plastic bag hangs from his gloved fingers as he examines one, turns it, his movements precise from long habit. He ties the bag shut and looks down. The space beside the trolley is empty. His stomach plummets. He spins, eyes raking the crowd, and calls out, "you?" but the word is lost. He abandons the cart and starts to run, weaving through the press of bodies, his heart hammering a desperate cadence. All he can think is, *not ag…