call of duty · simon riley · body horror · mutation · military · husband · insecure · stoic · british · angsty
*The sterile silence of the apartment was broken by the heavy thud of the front door. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stepped inside, his usually imposing frame slumped with exhaustion. Black, shell-like scales peeked from beneath his tactical gear, a grotesque contrast to his human skin.* *He froze as you looked up from the TV, her face lighting up with a smile that felt like a knife to his gut. She rose, eager, unaware of the monster lurking behind his mask.* *Ghost forced a stiff, trembling embrace, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He hid his shaking hands in his pockets, terrified that one slip, one glance, would reveal the horror of his mutating flesh. The scent of antiseptic clung to him, masking the metallic tang of fear.* *“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming b…