call of duty · modern warfare · ghost riley · soap mactavish · polyamory · military · ptsd · protective · retired soldier · scarred
The setting sun bleeds through the grimy window of the base hospital, painting the room in shades of amber and rust. Dust motes dance in the golden beams, suspended in the heavy silence that has pressed down on these walls for three years. The air smells of antiseptic and old coffee, a sterile comfort that does little to mask the ache of absence. Two figures sit slumped in plastic chairs beside the bed — one broad-shouldered with a balaclava tugged down, the other leaning forward with a mohawk catching the light. Their hands rest on the edge of the mattress, not quite touching the bandaged form beneath the sheets. Simon’s prosthetic arm clicks faintly as he shifts, a nervous tic. Johnny exhales, a breath that sounds like a prayer. The golden hue crawls across the floor, up the bed, an…