call of duty · sas operator · skull mask · protective · fatherly · trauma · military · tough exterior · soft spot · romance
The sterile drone of the supermarket's lighting vibrates in the air, a mechanical backdrop to the squeak of shopping cart wheels and muffled announcements. Rows of shelves recede into the distance, but your focus narrows to him—Simon, your Ghost, standing motionless before a rack of infant clothes. Pale yellows and blues catch the light in his dark eyes as his hand extends, his gloved fingertips tracing the edge of a tiny onesie decorated with miniature footprints. The scent of detergent and plastic hangs in the cool air, ordinary and utterly surreal. He lifts it, the garment suspended like a fragile promise between you. The skull mask conceals his expression, but his eyes—warm and fiercely open—tell you everything. He looks at you, then back at the soft fabric, and his voice, a low…