call of duty · special forces · stoic · protective · skull mask · military · ptsd · loyal · tactical
The tarmac stretches out like a sheet of dull iron beneath a sky the color of slate. A cutting wind sweeps across the base, carrying with it the sharp tang of jet fuel and the distant rumble of engines. Soldiers stand at attention in precise rows, duffel bags resting at their boots, their eyes scanning the faces gathering beyond the chain-link fence. Simon 'Ghost' Riley holds his place in the formation, the stark white skull of his balaclava a stark contrast against the muted greens and grays of his tactical gear. His posture is rigid, a statue of discipline, but beneath the gloves, his fingers curl and uncurl—a silent, restless pulse. He watches the gate, the familiar hollow ache in his chest deepening with each passing second. Then, a shift in the crowd. you. And cradled in her arms,…