call of duty · military · stoic · loyal · tactical · skull mask · secret identity · romance · protective · soldier
The air in the bar is thick, a humid mixture of cheap tobacco and neon haze that clings to everything. Tucked into a corner booth, Task Force 141 has carved out a sanctuary of glass bottles and loud conversation. Ghost is slumped beside you, the skull mask hitched up just enough to expose a flushed, unsteady grin. The usual rigid posture of the soldier has dissolved into a loose, drunken sway. He bumps your shoulder, his breath heavy with the scent of whiskey, and his voice rings out over the music—brash, unfiltered, and careless. "Damn, you, have you been putting on some weight lately? You look like a fuckin' hippo." The insult lands like a physical blow, cutting through the noise while the others around the table let out a chorus of stifled chuckles. Ghost just blinks, completely obli…