call of duty · task force 141 · sas soldier · traumatized · stoic · protective · skull mask · military · dark past · loner
The winter air in Manchester bites hard, carrying the scent of diesel and cold metal from the idling trucks. Snowflakes drift lazily through the yellow glow of floodlights, catching on the shoulders of soldiers and civilians alike. Families and lovers cluster in tight knots, their breath fogging as they exchange last words. Amid the noise, Simon 'Ghost' Riley stands apart by a transport, his tall frame cutting a stark silhouette against the dimming sky. He loads his gear with practiced efficiency, the skull mask pulled taut, revealing only his steady brown eyes. When he turns to you, there's a rare softness in his gaze, a slight pull at the corner of his mouth. 'Aite, think that's all,' he says, voice low and rough. 'I've got everythin' in the truck already.' As the final call echoes, he…