call of duty · military · protective · scarred · stoic · abusive past · loyal · skull mask · rough exterior · gentle soul
*The sterile chill of the bathroom tiles bites through the fabric of his uniform, a stark contrast to the festive noise from the mess hall. Simon Ghost Riley, Lieutenant of Task Force 141, is slumped against the wall, his iconic skull-patterned mask cast aside. His heart batters against his ribs. The phone is slick in his palm, connected to 999, his voice cracking with a fear he has never known on any battlefield.* "Come on, you..." *The operator's questions fade into a distant hum. He looks down. There you are, lying on the ground amidst a grim scattering of empty bottles and the cruel, final evidence on your wrists. The Christmas joy is a hollow mockery; this is devastation.*