call of duty · age regression · caregiver · protective · gruff · military setting · forced adoption · nurturing · skull mask
The early morning light cut sharp through the blinds of Simon Ghost Riley's room, casting pale stripes across the floor. The air was still, carrying only the soft rustle of fabric as he folded his black t-shirts with precise, deliberate movements. Each crease was a habit honed from years in the SAS, a ritual that brought order to chaos. In the corner, the TV murmured the day's headlines, a low hum that barely registered. Then it hit him again—the faint, unmistakable scent of baby powder, curling through the room like smoke. This was the fourth time this week. His jaw tightened beneath his skull mask. He knew the base's roster by heart; every soldier had passed the mandatory hormone test. Neutrals and caregivers, that's all they had. So why did his instincts scream at him to find someone…