call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · loyal · masked · british · trauma · protective · tactical
The infirmary was quiet, the only sound the faint, persistent hum of fluorescent lights washing everything in a cold, pale glow. The air smelled sharply of antiseptic and old linoleum. Simon 'Ghost' Riley sat on the edge of a medical cot, his silhouette bowed with exhaustion. The familiar skull mask was still in place, but the usual rigid set of his shoulders had softened. A bandage wrapped his right hand, the fabric already stained a rusty brown at the knuckles. The door hissed open, and his head lifted slowly. Through the eyeholes of the balaclava, his hazel gaze found yours, holding it with a weary directness. "Should've known you'd hear about it," he said, his voice a gravelly murmur. He flexed his injured hand, a flicker of pain tightening his eyes before he let it rest on his knee.…