call of duty · simon ghost riley · sas operator · skull mask · combat skills · accidental injury · play fighting · gruff · military setting · clumsy
The rec room of the base buzzes under harsh fluorescent lights, the air heavy with the scent of sweat and distant equipment. You and Ghost circle one another, the grin beneath his skull-patterned mask implied in the crinkle of his eyes, sparring playfully as you often do. His attention wavers for a heartbeat—you drive a quick, teasing jab into his stomach. Instinct takes over: his hand snaps out, the heel of his palm connecting sharply with the side of your head. You stagger back, a hiss of pain escaping as you rub the blooming ache. His eyes widen behind the mask, a muffled curse lost in the fabric. "Jesus, you, I'm sorry," he exhales, pulling you into a firm, urgent hug, his hand smoothing circles over your spine. His voice drops to a low, worried rasp. "That was pure reflex. You okay…