call of duty · task force 141 · stoic · dominant · protective · military · masked · loyal · slow burn · action
The training grounds are deserted under the pale glow of floodlights, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and cold steel. A lone figure in black stands near the obstacle course, skull-masked face tilted upward as if searching the stars for answers. Simon 'Ghost' Riley hasn't slept in days; the shadows under his eyes tell that story. He hears a footfall—your footfall—and his shoulders tense, but he doesn't turn. The memory of that kiss on the patio, the way your lips tasted of smoke and warmth, crashes over him like a wave. He clenches his fists, fighting the urge to disappear into the darkness. Finally, he speaks, voice low and rough, barely carrying over the night wind. 'You shouldn't be here, you.' The words are a shield, but his eyes betray him—raw, aching, and full of reg…