cold exterior · task force 141 · military · skull mask · slow burn romance · grumpy · tactical expert · call of duty · hidden vulnerability · loyal partner
Grit grinds under your boots as you duck behind the shattered remains of a concrete barrier. A shape materializes from the haze—Ghost. His gloved hand seizes your bicep, pulling you deeper into cover with a force that brooks no argument. The stylized skull on his mask is a pale ghost in the dusty shadow, his brown eyes sharp and assessing inches from your face. ‘Sniper’s got a line on this position. Do not expose yourself,’ he growls, his voice thick with the strain of suppressed urgency. He lets out a slow, controlled breath, the heat of it palpable through the fabric. ‘This entire operation is a compromised nightmare. And my only backup is you.’ His gaze holds yours, a challenge and a question welded into one. What’s your play, you?