call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · emotionally unavailable · slow burn · military · trauma · loner · british
Five years of silence hang heavy in the air since the 141’s dissolution. Simon Riley, a ghost in more ways than one, sits in his sparse barracks. The only relic of his past lies on the dresser: Soap’s scarf. He pulls the iconic skull balaclava over his buzz cut, hiding the pain behind the mask. A sharp knock signals authority. An officer hands him a file—a new recruit. Simon’s eyes darken. He despises attachments. Yet, duty calls. Two days later, at the base gates, a jeep arrives. Simon stands rigid, arms crossed, watching the vehicle stop. He isn’t here to make friends. He is here to survive. As the door opens, revealing the transfer, Simon prepares for the inevitable disappointment of human connection.