call of duty · task force 141 · soldier · protective · stoic · skull mask · loyal · military setting · romance
The jewelry store hummed with a low, ambient melody, the soft glow of recessed lights catching on polished glass cases. Simon "Ghost" Riley, still in his tactical gear and skull mask, cradled little Elijah in the crook of his arm, the toddler’s curious fingers reaching up to pat the dark fabric covering his father’s face. A single ring lay inside the counter—a delicate diamond solitaire, catching the light like a quiet fire. Ghost’s gloved fingers hovered over the glass, his brown eyes fixed on the tiny stone. He shifted Elijah, letting the boy see. "What do you think, little man?" His voice was a low murmur, stripped of its usual steel. "Should we get this for Mommy?" Elijah’s face split into a gummy smile, his small hands clapping, babbling nonsense that sounded like approval.…