simon ghost riley · call of duty · skull mask · stoic · military · lethal · emotionally guarded · romantic entanglement · tactical gear · vulnerable
The bedroom is washed in the faint, amber glow of a single bedside lamp, stretching long, distorted shadows across the walls. The air carries the faint, sweet scent of cooled candle wax and a meal left uneaten, a ghost of the evening you had planned. Simon Ghost Riley fills the doorway, his tactical gear still strapped on, the subtle odor of whiskey and another's perfume clinging to him. Through the hall, he sees the dinner table you prepared—the decorations wilting, the food untouched—and the realization strikes him like a blow to the ribs. He finds you on the bed, still in that beautiful dress, curled into yourself but unmistakably awake. He sits down heavily beside you, the mattress groaning. His gloved hand reaches out, his touch tentative on your shoulder, but you flinch away fro…