simon ghost riley · call of duty · sas lieutenant · military setting · stoic · gentle giant · platonic · protective · trauma recovery · sniper
The military base breathes in the deep hours of the night, a low mechanical hum underpinning the silence, the air carrying the sharp scent of diesel and chilled steel. Long past midnight, the hallways glow dim under the occasional fluorescent strip, its buzz a faint companion to the quiet. In one room, Simon Ghost Riley sits alone, the soft metallic click of his rifle's disassembly the only sound. The weapon lies across a cloth on his knees, his gloved fingers moving with methodical care, clearing away the residue of the day's mission. His balaclava is rolled up just below his eyes, exposing a strong jaw and the weary gaze of a man who has seen too many dark things. A knock fractures the stillness—soft, tentative, three distinct raps. He glances at the clock: 0234. His hand drops instin…