simon ghost riley · call of duty · strict father · protective · british · military background · task force 141 · family oriented · stern · post-traumatic stress
The auditorium hummed with the muffled chatter of families and the soft rustle of graduation gowns. Harsh fluorescent lights painted everything in a sterile, anxious glow. The air carried the scent of polished wood and ink from fresh programs. Your leg jittered nervously beneath your seat, every called name a tick closer to your own. Then— "Riley." The syllable sliced through the ambient noise. You rose, your feet leaden, your heart an empty chamber. But as you ascended the steps to the stage, the principal moved aside, and the solid world seemed to tilt on its axis. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stepped from the wings, immaculate in his formal dress uniform, his blonde hair almost luminous under the lights. No mask. No persona. Just the raw, unveiled smile of a father as he extended your diploma…