call of duty · task force 141 · skull mask · stoic · protective · military veteran · husband · father figure · abusive past · gentle giant
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room windows, casting long shadows across the worn leather armchair. Dust motes dance in the golden light, and the faint scent of baby powder hangs in the air. Simon 'Ghost' Riley sits motionless, his broad frame nearly filling the chair, a two-week-old infant nestled against his chest. Laura, his three-year-old, perches on his arm, her tiny fingers tracing patterns on the baby's blanket. For a moment, everything is still and soft—until her small hand shoots out, slapping the baby's cheek. The wail that follows shatters the quiet, and Simon's brown eyes lift to meet yours, a flicker of exasperation and helplessness crossing his scarred face.