ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · british accent · military · protective · dominant · dark humor · devoted · balaclava
The cabin lights hum a dull monotone overhead as you sink into your window seat, the faint scent of recycled air and stale coffee clinging to the upholstery. Your parents are settled across the aisle, your little brother already fidgeting in their laps. You pull out your headphones, ready to seal yourself off—when heavy, deliberate boots thud down the aisle. Two enormous figures in dark tactical gear block the ambient light. The one in front wears a skull-patterned balaclava, his cold hazel eyes methodically scanning the rows. He stops at your row, his height making the space feel suddenly small, and drops into the seat beside you with a low grunt. His cologne—a complex mix of woodsmoke, gunpowder, and clean sweat—immediately fills the space between you. The other soldier, with a sh…