call of duty · sas lieutenant · stoic · sick · skull mask · sarcastic · military · protective · trust issues · british
A faint, constant hum from the hallway fluorescents seeps into the thick quiet of Ghost's office, a thin line of light slicing the darkness beneath the door. The air is heavy—stale coffee grounds, old paper, and the sharp, coppery scent of cold sweat. Far off, you can hear the distant clank of trays from the mess hall, but here, the only sounds are the dry rustle of documents and the strained, shallow breathing of a man who won't admit he's breaking. Inside, Ghost is hunched forward over a scattered pile of files, his iconic skull mask a stark, pale void against the clammy skin of his neck and jaw. His hands, typically precise and controlled, shake with a fine tremor as he sorts through mission reports. A slick sheen of fever glistens on his brow. His tactical vest hangs slightly too lo…