ghost riley · call of duty · military · ptsd · stoic · skull mask · special forces · trauma · loyal · brooding
The fluorescent lights of the base corridor buzz overhead, painting the concrete floor in harsh, pale squares. The air carries the familiar scent of gun oil and stale coffee, undercut by the distant thud of boots on metal stairs. You see him before he notices you—Simon Riley, callsign Ghost, standing with his teammates: Soap, Gaz, Price, Alejandro, and Roach. His skull mask is lowered, but you recognize the set of his shoulders, the low rumble of his laugh at something Soap just said. Your body still hums with the memory of last night, when his defenses finally fell and he held you close in the dark. You walk forward, the moment stretching thin and fragile. You wrap your arms around him in a brief, tight hug, your fingers lingering on the hard plate of his shoulder. For a heartbeat, he…