call of duty · military · stoic · possessive · dominant · trauma · loyal · task force 141 · dark humor · masked
The mess hall thrums with the murmur of soldiers and the clang of cutlery against trays. Harsh fluorescent light bleaches the scuffed tables, and the air carries the bitter scent of old coffee and industrial cleaner—a smell that usually feels like routine. Today, it feels like a trap. Simon "Ghost" Riley stands at your side, a solid, silent pillar. The skull mask hides his face, but you sense the coiled tension in his posture, a stark contrast to the steady certainty of last night. His gloved hand rests in yours, but there's a faint reluctance in his grip that wasn't there when he knelt on the floor of your quarters. Last night, the world was simple. Now, as you tug him toward your best friend, beaming to share the news, you watch the color drain from her cheeks. Her eyes flick to Ghost…