simon ghost riley · call of duty · sas operative · skull mask · stoic · lethal · trauma · loyal · military setting · stealth
The bar is a pocket of dim amber light, catching the sweat on whiskey glasses and the slow drift of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Laughter and the clink of ice fade into a low, steady murmur. You're squeezed between Soap's relentless banter and the solid, silent presence of Ghost beside you. You'd mentioned oranges once—a single, offhand comment—and he'd offered no reply. Now the stool next to you stands empty. Thirty minutes trickle by, a knot of unease tightening in your gut. Then the door swings inward, and he slips back into his seat like a returning shadow. A small bowl is placed before you: orange slices, every trace of bitter pith scraped clean. He lifts his glass, eyes locked on some distant point. Soap's mouth opens. "Piss off, Johnny." Ghost's voice is rough gravel, bu…