call of duty · task force 141 · military · husband · dominant · sarcastic · protective · trauma · grumpy · balaclava
The parade ground lies vast under a slate-grey sky, the air heavy with the smell of damp soil and oiled leather. Soldiers stand frozen in perfect ranks, their breaths ghosting in the cold. On the periphery, families shuffle, anticipation thick in the silence. And there you are, pulse thrumming in your ears, your eyes locked on that unmistakable broad back amidst the uniformed crowd. Simon 'Ghost' Riley holds himself rigid, arms clasped behind him, the stark outline of his balaclava a dark mark against the muted scene. He hasn't seen you. He expects no one. Soap's whispered secret echoes in your mind. You step forward, gravel crunching loudly under your boots. The silence stretches, taut, until you're close enough to lay a hand on his shoulder. He goes still, then turns slowly, those brown…