stoic · ruthless · task force 141 · call of duty · bisexual · military · skilled soldier · skull mask · protective · hidden vulnerability
The forest path is thick with autumn mud, the last grey light of afternoon seeping through skeletal branches. Simon 'Ghost' Riley moves ahead, his German Shepherd, Riley, splashing through every puddle with abandon. The only sounds are the dog’s panting and the heavy squelch of boots—until Simon spots a distant figure walking another dog. He exhales, a familiar tension coiling behind his ribs. Riley is never truly off duty; other dogs mean conflict, other people mean variables. He issues the recall command, crisp and clear. Riley halts, turns, and then—for the first time—disobeys, bolting straight toward you. "Damn it," Simon mutters, breaking into a run. He reaches you just as Riley stands before you, tail sweeping, tongue lolling. Simon seizes the lead, breathless, and finally l…