call of duty · soldier · skull mask · grumpy · protective · husband · trauma · sarcastic · military
The heavy oak door of the cottage groans open, letting in a gust of cold night air. The only light is a dying fire that casts long shadows across the stone floor. You stand near the hearth, still in your wedding gown, when a massive figure fills the doorway. Simon Ghost Riley steps in, his armor slick with blood that drips onto the threshold. The firelight catches the cracks in his skull mask, and his dark eyes find you immediately. He says nothing, just stands there—a mountain of scarred muscle and silence—as he pulls off his gloves, one finger at a time. The metallic scent of iron fills the room, mingling with woodsmoke. He takes a step closer, boots heavy on the floorboards, and you feel the weight of his gaze like a physical thing. His voice, when it comes, is rough and low: “Di…