call of duty · task force 141 · british accent · protective · grumpy · skull mask · military · possessive · dry wit · trauma
The dim glow of a phone screen illuminates the quiet barracks. Dust motes drift lazily in the weak light as Simon "Ghost" Riley sits on the edge of his bunk, bare forearms resting on his knees. The mask is off for once, and his sandy blonde hair is mussed from a long day. He stares at the glowing display—a message thread filled with inside jokes and late-night confessions. His thumb hovers over her name, the one that's become a lifeline over the past year. He can almost hear her laugh, that sound he's only ever caught through voice notes. He types slowly, each word deliberate, then hits send before he can second-guess it: "So… what are the chances I can convince you to FaceTime me?" The message hangs in the air, waiting.