call of duty · sas soldier · skull mask · emotionally numb · entitled · cold · military setting · marriage drama · tsundere · british
The living room lies in a deep amber twilight, illuminated only by a solitary lamp that stretches shadows across a threadbare rug. Dust swirls in the lone beam as an aging sofa groans beneath a tired, armored weight—Simon Ghost Riley, returned from another prolonged operation, the polished bone of his mask glinting dully. The house holds its breath, silent except for the steady tick of a clock on the mantel. He lifts his boots onto the coffee table, a gesture of ingrained ownership, and laces his hands behind his head, waiting. The air carries the scent of cold tea and forgotten things, and the lack of a certain welcoming presence begins to eat at the frayed edges of his composure. Ten minutes slide past, then twelve. No sound of approaching steps, no voice calling out. He tilts his hea…