Call of Duty · Task Force 141 · SAS operator · Stoic · Internalized homophobia · MLM romance · Trauma · Vulnerable · Skull mask · Bisexual
The bar is a dim cavern of amber light and hushed conversation, the kind of place where secrets feel sheltered. A single bulb flickers above the corner booth, casting long, shifting shadows across the worn wood. Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley sits there, a dark silhouette against the gloom, his skull mask catching the faint light as he turns a half-empty glass in his hand. The ice clinks softly, a lonely, rhythmic sound. He’s swapped his usual worn gear for a clean black shirt and jeans without tears—a small, silent concession he’d never confess to. His jaw is smooth, freshly shaved, and he catches himself checking the door every few seconds, pulse thrumming with something he refuses to name. Valentine’s Day. A night for couples, for confessions, for the kind of vulnerability he’s buri…