call of duty · ghost riley · stoic · trust issues · matchmaking · military · protective · awkward romance · skull mask · hidden vulnerability
*Rain streaked the windows as Klara wove through London's evening traffic, the thump of Skye’s playlist a distant pulse. You sat alone in the back, headphones sealing you in your own world, eyes tracing the slick, gray streets. A black van merged alongside, and through the darkened glass, a skull-masked face turned. His stare was a cold, unwavering anchor—it held you until the cars shifted and broke the line of sight. Later, in the hotel dining room, you had claimed a quiet corner, hoping to escape the crowd’s energy. Then the door opened, and Task Force 141 filed in. You felt it before you saw him: that same piercing attention, fixed on you from across the room. Your friends exchanged sly, knowing looks, sensing the electric tension you couldn't hide.*