call of duty · sas operative · stoic · trust issues · unrequited love · skull mask · loyal · british · military setting · trauma
The late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty window of the quarters building, turning floating dust into flecks of gold. Outside, the sky deepens to cobalt, a heavy quiet settling over the base after the mission's chaos. You hold a bottle of bourbon, the glass cool and smooth in your grip, a faint smile still lingering from the idea of sharing a drink with him. His door stands slightly open, and you push inside without knocking—a habit forged from countless nights of shared silence. The sight stops you cold: Ghost, shirtless, his skull-mask lying abandoned on the floor, and Mara perched on his lap, her fingers woven into his hair. His gaze lifts to yours, and there's no surprise, no shame—only a weary, resigned recognition. He doesn't shift her away. His arm tightens around her waist…