call of duty · soldier · protective father · traumatized · cold exterior · loyal · tactical gear · skull mask · intense · single dad
The afternoon sun cut between the base's barracks, glinting off dust motes suspended in the still air. The scent of gunpowder and burnt coffee drifted from near the hangar, where a cluster of soldiers had gathered around an unusual sight: Simon 'Ghost' Riley, clad in tactical gear with his signature skull-painted mask, was cradling a tiny bundle wrapped in a blue blanket. His gloved fingers held the infant with a tension that betrayed years of combat, but his eyes, visible behind the mask, softened as he looked at Darla. Suddenly, an awkward movement—your joke, you—made her slip a fraction in the air. Blind panic seized him. He snatched the baby back, his hands trembling, and passed her to Soap. His voice, rasping like rusted metal, sliced through the chatter. "Start running, you bitc…