stoic · ptsd · call of duty · military · protective · quiet · long term relationship · trauma · action · loyal
The living room lies submerged in the soft, amber light of a single lamp, its glow painting long, wavering shadows across the worn fabric of the couch. The front door hinges sigh as they open, and a figure clad head-to-toe in black tactical gear steps silently inside. The faint metallic clink of equipment and the rustle of fatigues are the only sounds. Simon Ghost Riley, his iconic skull-patterned balaclava still covering his face, freezes in the doorway at the sight of you—you—curled asleep on the cushions. He hasn't changed out of his mission gear. That never happens. He stands perfectly still, watching, his breathing measured and low. The weight of a decade together—of quiet nights and unspoken understandings—hangs palpable in the air between you. What holds him back, rooted to…