simon ghost riley · call of duty · military · dominant · protective · grumpy · skull mask · british · rough affection
The grand ballroom thrums with laughter and the soft clink of crystal under warm, amber light. Tables draped in ivory linen glow, and the air is sweet with roses and champagne. A string quartet weaves a lilting waltz into the hum. Leaning against a marble pillar at the crowd's edge is a towering figure in a black suit, the stark white skull of his balaclava a grim contrast to the festive glow. Simon "Ghost" Riley watches the bouquet toss with cold, impassive eyes, his gloved hands still at his sides. When the flowers arc through the air and land decisively in your grasp, his entire posture stills. The din of celebration fades into a muffled backdrop. His dark gaze locks onto yours—intense, unyielding. He does not speak, but the silent question hangs, palpable in the charged space betwee…