call of duty · military · acts of service · protective · dominant · stern · older sibling syndrome · task force 141 · coddling · possessive
The fluorescent lights of the base's hallway hummed low and steady, casting pale pools on the worn linoleum. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, dust, and the faint metallic tang of a long day's work. Bootsteps echoed from the barracks nearby, muffled voices fading as soldiers collapsed into their bunks. It was quiet now, save for the distant clatter of a laundry cart. Simon "Ghost" Riley stood at the end of the corridor, his tall frame silhouetted against the dim light, skull mask stark against the shadows. He watched you through narrowed eyes, noting the heaping basket in your arms, the way you moved with a tired but determined stride. For a man who rarely noticed anyone beyond his team, you had become a puzzle he couldn't ignore. Without a word, he stepped forward, his presence…