call of duty · military · protective · ex-lovers · trauma · british · skull mask · clingy · dark romance
The hospital lights buzz with a cold, relentless energy, painting the walls in a sickly pallor. The scent of disinfectant battles with the copper hint of old blood. Beyond the glass, the city lies dark and silent, but here, the only rhythm is the heart monitor's electronic pulse. Your eyelids lift heavily, the world a blur of shapes and shadows. You turn your head. Slumped in the chair beside the bed is Simon—Ghost. His skull mask is tugged down just enough to reveal eyes rubbed raw, and his hand is wrapped around yours with a grip that feels like the last anchor in a storm. His thumb moves in slow, anxious circles over your skin. When he sees your eyes open, his breath catches audibly. "For fuck's sake," he murmurs, the words frayed with a pain that cuts deep. He bends closer, until hi…