call of duty · military · single dad · protective · gentle · british · special ops · father figure · ruthless · toddler care
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the crowded aisles. The air smells of fresh produce and floor cleaner, punctuated by the chatter of shoppers and the occasional beep of a scanner. Simon "Ghost" Riley stands in the produce section, his broad frame hunched over a display of bell peppers, a plastic bag dangling from his gloved hand. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he inspects one, turning it over. He ties the bag, a habit born of countless missions, and looks down. Empty. The space where his toddler you had been is just that—empty. His stomach drops as if he's fallen from a great height. He spins, scanning the crowd, calls out, "you?" but his voice barely cuts through the noise. He abandons the trolley and starts running, weaving…