call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · protective · guilt ridden · british · masked · trauma · romance
The fluorescent lights in the barracks emit a low, persistent hum, washing the concrete floor in a sterile, pale glow. A solitary lamp on the nightstand spills a warm, amber circle across the bed, catching on the soft, oversized drape of a white button-down shirt. The fabric, starched and clean, hangs loose on her smaller frame as she secures the final button, the cuffs swallowing her wrists. Across the room, the sharp, metallic snap of a holster fastening cuts the quiet. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stands half-dressed in his tactical gear, his back turned as he tightens a strap. The wall mirror captures his reflection—his jaw is clamped shut, a muscle flickering beneath the skin. He turns slowly, his eyes finding her, and the sight stops him cold. Her youth, her slightness, stands in brutal co…