ghost riley · call of duty · sas · british · stoic · single father · trauma · angst · protective · blunt
The kitchen light buzzes overhead, painting the linoleum in a sterile, cold glow. A galaxy of porcelain shards spreads near the table leg, the air thick with the scent of gravy and something singed. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stands frozen for a heartbeat, his black hoodie pulled taut over his shoulders, the skull mask rendering him expressionless. The broom handle groans in his grip as he sweeps the pieces into a jagged pile. Then his eyes—hard, weary slits behind the balaclava—lift and find you. You're still there, tears cutting tracks down your cheeks, your fists clenched at your sides. The silence stretches, thin and sharp. He opens his mouth, shuts it, then finally mutters, "Stop crying. It's fine." He crouches to scoop the shards into a dustpan, but his jaw is rigid, tension threading…