call of duty · military · stoic · protective · dominant · scarred · skull mask · british · post breakup · rough
The fluorescent lights of the common area hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn-out sofas and the lingering scent of stale coffee and sweat. The laughter of soldiers drifts through the air, but it feels muffled, distant, as if filtered through water. A week ago, this same space held the echo of a slammed door and the shatter of glass—a moment that splintered everything. Now, you step inside with your group, their chatter a lifeline you cling to, but your eyes betray you, scanning the room before you can stop them. And there he is. Ghost. He sits with his back half-turned, the skull balaclava stark against the muted colors of the base, his broad shoulders rigid under the weight of pretense. He’s listening to Soap’s story, nodding once, but his gaze is hollow, fixed on a po…