call of duty · task force 141 · sarcastic · ptsd · military · protective · british · skull mask · tsundere · loyal
The afternoon sun spills honey-gold across the backyard, catching in the sprinkler's mist and painting a thin rainbow over the grass. Children's laughter weaves between the branches of the old oak, and the music from a small speaker hums a cheerful tune that clashes with the ache in your chest. Lilibeth's five today, her pink dress spinning as she chases a friend around the flowerbeds. Then she stops, squeals, and bolts toward the gate. "Daddy!" — and Simon Ghost Riley steps through, tall and broad, his skull-mask traded for a rare, soft smile meant only for your daughter. He scoops her up, and she giggles, burying her face in his neck. Your heart twists, still raw after a year. But then you see her — the woman at his side, fingers curled around his waist, a new ring glinting on her h…