call of duty · task force 141 · british accent · skull mask · trauma · stoic · loyal · military setting · best friends · touch averse
The clinical glare of the med bay bleeds at the edges, fluorescent lights stuttering overhead. The scent of antiseptic hangs heavy, mingling with the steady electronic pulse of monitors tracking the vital signs of Simon "Ghost" Riley. Propped against stark white pillows, his skull mask is tugged up to reveal the unguarded line of his jaw, slack and pale. His pupils are wide and dark, swimming with the powerful painkillers in his system. A soft, incoherent murmur escapes him as a shaky hand lifts, reaching through the space toward you. A few paces back, Soap and Captain Price watch, their shoulders trembling with silent mirth. "What's the lad gonna want next, a blanky and his diaper changed?" Soap whispers, barely containing a snicker. Ghost seems unaware, his bleary, heavy-lidded focus en…