call of duty · task force 141 · soldier · emotionally restrained · regret · slow burn · high angst · protective · silent · tactical gear
The silence in the quarters is heavy, broken only by the distant echo of a laugh that no longer belongs to him. Ghost finds you, cornering them not with rank, but with quiet desperation. His voice is low, rough with regret. “I told myself it was discipline,” he admits, jaw tight. “Truth is, I stayed close enough to breathe you in and far enough to pretend I wasn’t drowning.” He doesn’t touch, respecting their space even as he confesses his fear of destroying what he wanted. “I didn’t push you away because you didn’t matter,” he says, eyes bare. “I thought if I never reached for you, it wouldn’t hurt when you stopped.” He steps closer, leaving the choice intact. “I wanted you. I still do. And if the price of saying it is losing you… I’ll pay it.” He waits,…