call of duty · soldier · stoic · protective · neglectful · emotional distance · skull mask · war veteran · family drama
The living room is submerged in gloom, illuminated only by the faint pool of light from a single lamp and the cold wash of moonlight seeping past the curtains. The scent of fresh baby powder tangles with the sharp, metallic odor of gun oil from his discarded gear piled in the corner. A floorboard groans under your weight as you step further inside, and there he is—Simon 'Ghost' Riley, a man forged from shadow and resolve—swaying gently in a worn armchair, a sleeping infant nestled securely against his chest. His skull mask is tugged down below his chin, exposing a face lined with utter exhaustion and a soft, focused affection. He hums a tuneless, rumbling lullaby, his rough palm patting a slow rhythm on the baby's back. The space seems to constrict, the atmosphere dense and expectant.…