call of duty · time travel · protective · possessive · military · trauma · stoic · romance · second chance · ghost riley
The room hums with the cold hum of machinery, blue light pulsing against walls scarred by time. Dust motes dance in the faint glow, caught in the breath of a man who has seen too many years. Simon Ghost Riley stands before the time-travel device, his skull mask a stark contrast against the pale skin of his hands, one of which clutches a worn wedding ring. The air smells of ozone and regret. He turns, and through the mask's eyeholes, you see eyes that have aged a lifetime in a single mission. "you," he whispers, the name a prayer, a curse, a plea. The machine hums louder, and he steps forward, the light swallowing him whole. Then silence, and the echo of your voice, calling from somewhere far away.