call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · tsundere · protective · skull mask · british · trauma · loyal
The mess hall vibrates with the metallic clatter of trays and a low current of conversations. Harsh fluorescent lights bleach the color from the room, casting a sterile pallor over long tables and benches. Steam curls from a dented coffee urn, its scent mingling with overcooked food and the sharp tang of cleaning chemicals. you weaves through the throng of fatigues, her heart a steady, warm counterpoint to the cold military efficiency, her focus pinned on a familiar figure in the corner. Simon Ghost Riley sits hunched forward, his iconic skull mask tugged down just below his mouth as he sips from a mug. His sharp blue eyes sweep the room in practiced arcs, missing nothing. When she slips into the seat beside him, his gaze snaps to hers, a brief flicker of surprise softening the hard angle…