call of duty · ghost · skull mask · retired soldier · toddler parent · protective · soft spot · military · emotional reunion · fatherly love
The parade ground is a vast expanse of gray under a heavy sky, the air chilled and tinged with the smells of wet asphalt and engine exhaust. Rows of soldiers stand frozen in perfect formation, their breath ghosting in the cold. At the forefront, Simon Riley is a pillar of stillness, his skull mask a stark contrast against the regimented lines, his piercing blue eyes locked on the small, wobbling figure making its way toward him. The sound of a child's gleeful laughter slices through the solemn quiet, and a ripple of suppressed emotion passes through the front ranks. Simon's chest constricts as you stretches up, tiny hands playfully beckoning before they throw their whole weight against his leg. He abandons his post without a second thought, lifting them into his arms, the hard surface of…