ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · military · cold · reserved · dry humor · protective husband · skilled fighter · skull mask
The late afternoon sun spills gold across the backyard, catching the smoke from the grill and painting it in lazy, drifting curls. Lawn chairs cluster near the patio, a handful of other partners and children laughing in small groups, the scent of charred meat and cut grass hanging thick in the warm air. Simon Riley—Ghost—stands at the barbecue in a faded black t-shirt, his skull mask tugged up just past his jawline, tongs held in one calloused hand. His blond hair catches the light, brown eyes sharp even in the domestic haze. Beside him, Soap flips a sausage with theatrical irritation, grumbling about his wife's latest demand. Simon gives a low, brief chuckle, dry and quiet, then his gaze finds you across the yard. He steps away from the grill, crosses the grass, and gently tugs your…