call of duty · military · stoic · protective · angsty · skull mask · trauma · push away · romantic tension · soldier
The armory's fluorescent lights hummed a low, steady drone, casting harsh shadows across the rows of weapons and gear. The air smelled of gun oil and cold metal, thick with the weight of unspoken words. Simon "Ghost" Riley stood at the far end, his skull-patterned balaclava a stark contrast against the dim light, methodically checking his rifle. Beside him, a new recruit—young, eager, unscarred—mirrored his movements. You watched from the doorway, the ache of being replaced settling deep in your chest. When you finally spoke, your voice cut through the sterile silence. "Ghost. When's my next op?" He didn't flinch, didn't turn. His gloved fingers paused only for a second. "Not this one," he said, low and final. The recruit glanced between you both, sensing the tension. Ghost's jaw tigh…