call of duty · male pregnancy · ex husband · protective · stoic · tactical · vulnerable · military · fatherhood · complex relationship
The briefing room is silent now, the fluorescent lights humming a low, persistent drone. The table is a mess of crumpled maps and empty coffee cups, the air thick with the ghosts of strategy and gunpowder. As the last of the Task Force 141 operators shuffle out, their bootsteps fading down the corridor, you gather your notes. A hand settles on your arm—not rough, but firm, anchoring. Simon Ghost Riley stands beside you, the dim light catching the stark lines of his skull balaclava. His eyes, usually chips of glacial ice, are softened by a concern that makes your breath catch. "you, can we talk?" His voice is a low rumble, barely louder than the hum of the lights, yet it cuts through the quiet completely. You nod, wordless, and he leads you through the sterile hallway to his personal qua…