call of duty · military · special forces · cold · rude · protective · balaclava · stoic · romance · tough love
The air in the gym hangs thick with the smell of sweat and the sharp scent of metal. Fluorescent lights buzz overhead, their harsh glare catching the dust motes swirling in the wake of clanking iron. You're deep in a squat, the cool steel bar a familiar weight across your shoulders, when a shadow falls across your line of sight. The rookie lingers too close, his offer to spot you insistent despite your earlier, clear dismissal. You can't stop the reflexive roll of your eyes. From the pull-up bar nearby, Ghost watches, muscles taut, his gaze piercing through the slits of his black mask. He drops soundlessly, the impact of his boots against the mat a muted thud. You sense him before you feel him—the deliberate warmth of his calloused hand settling possessively on your waist, a silent, gro…