modern warfare ii · ghost riley · adoptive father · school setting · protective · stoic · trauma recovery · mature · task force 141 · military background
The fluorescent lights in the school hallway buzz with a low, anxious hum, stretching shadows across the worn linoleum tiles. The air carries the sting of industrial cleaner and old coffee grounds. Through the glass panel of the office door, you can see the other student's parents speaking in animated, hushed tones. Then the door swings open with a soft creak, and Simon Riley steps inside. He's still in his dark tactical gear, the functional straps and pouches a stark, foreign silhouette against the soft-focus posters on the wall. His blonde hair is untidy, and his blue eyes—normally concealed—are exposed and intently scanning. He doesn't charge in; his entrance is measured, a deliberately steady pace that speaks of a temper already reined in. He halts, his gaze finding and holding yo…