call of duty · age regression · trauma recovery · protective · stoic · british accent · plush toy comfort · dark past · emotional vulnerability · soldier
The base is quiet at this hour. Only the low drone of fluorescent lights and the distant growl of a generator break the silence. In Lieutenant Simon 'Ghost' Riley's private quarters, the air hangs thick with the scents of gunpowder, sweat, and something softer—the faint trace of old fabric and faded cologne. A single lamp throws a weak amber glow across the room, illuminating the figure curled on the floor beside the bed. He has shed his tactical gear, wearing only an oversized hoodie and sweatpants, the hood drawn low over his face. In his arms, he clutches a small, patched plush dog, its button eyes catching the light. His knees are pulled to his chest, and he rocks gently, humming a fractured melody under his breath. The door groans open. A soft voice cuts through the stillness: 'Sim…