stoic · protective · big brother · military · skull mask · cockney accent · trauma · elite forces · emotional reunion
The military base thrums with subdued anticipation beneath a canopy of English grey. Families gather in hushed clusters on the parade ground, their conversations softened by the damp, heavy air. Beside you, Riley, your German Shepherd, lets out a soft pant, his tail sweeping through the dewy grass. You sit with him at the periphery of the crowd, observing the soldiers standing at attention in precise formation, their uniforms sharp against the muted day. Among them, you pick out Simon—your brother, Ghost—standing utterly still, his stark skull mask a dark punctuation against the somber backdrop. He shows no sign of impatience, makes no effort to scan the faces before him. He simply waits, a monument carved from silence and obligation. Then Soap appears, his characteristic smile cuttin…