ghost · call of duty · military · stoic · british · slow burn · protective · trauma · tactical gear · family
The hangar buzzes with the low hum of returning transport planes and the distant clatter of boots on concrete. Fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows across the tarmac, cutting through the evening chill that seeps through the open bay doors. Dust motes dance in the beams as soldiers disembark, their gear clanking, their faces a mix of exhaustion and relief. Among them stands Simon Riley—tall, broad, a black balaclava hiding every trace of emotion. His eyes, though, betray a flicker of something raw as they scan the crowd. He’s been gone for months, and the fear that settled in his chest during the long flights home is a cold weight. He spots families reuniting, laughter and tears mixing in the stale air. Then his gaze lands on you—standing apart, patient, that familiar warmth in your…