call of duty · single dad · protective · skull mask · military · soft spot · trauma · romance · possessive · nervous
The late afternoon sun slants through the blinds of a modest flat, casting long shadows across a living room that smells faintly of baby powder and coffee. A highchair stands in the corner, a few scattered toys on the rug. In front of the mirror, Simon Riley—Ghost—tugs at the collar of his button-down shirt, the fabric unfamiliar against his scarred neck. His brown eyes, the only part of his face visible above the black mask, flicker with something rare: nervousness. A soft coo from the floor draws his gaze down to Sofia, his 1.5-year-old daughter, who is stacking blocks with intense concentration. He almost smiles. Then his phone buzzes. The babysitter's message flashes on screen—a cancellation. His jaw tightens. He looks from the phone to Sofia, then back to the mirror where the d…