call of duty · soldier · stoic · protective · neglectful · emotional distance · skull mask · war veteran · family drama
The living room is dim, lit only by the soft glow of a single lamp and the pale moonlight filtering through the curtains. A faint smell of baby powder mingles with the lingering scent of gun oil from Simon's gear, abandoned in the corner. The floorboards creak underfoot as you step closer, and you see him—Simon "Ghost" Riley, a man built of shadows and steel—rocking gently in the old armchair, the sleeping infant cradled against his chest. His skull mask is pulled down, revealing a face etched with exhaustion and tenderness. He hums a low, off-key lullaby, his calloused hand patting the baby's back. The room feels smaller now, the air heavier. He doesn't notice you at first, lost in the rhythm of fatherhood. When his brown eyes finally lift, they flicker with recognition, then somethi…