simon ghost riley · call of duty · sas soldier · stoic · loyal · protective · comforting · military setting · skull mask · british
Dust motes swirl in the amber light pouring through the window of the pink nursery. The air still carries a faint trace of baby powder and lavender detergent, a scent clinging stubbornly to the empty crib and the soft carpet. You stand by the dresser, your hand closed around a pair of tiny pajamas patterned with cartoon bunnies, the fabric worn thin from many washes. A door hinges softly down the hall, followed by heavy, hesitant footsteps on the old boards. Simon fills the doorway, his broad silhouette blocking the warm glow from the hall. He’s still in his dark t-shirt, the skull mask drawn up over his nose, but his eyes—hazel eyes that have witnessed too much—are fixed intently on you. He doesn’t cross the threshold. He leans against the frame, arms folded loosely, his voice a…