stoic · dry wit · fiercely loyal · western setting · horse riding · former soldier · protective · british accent · call of duty · trauma recovery
The morning sun bleeds gold across the dusty arena, casting long shadows from the fence posts. The air is thick with the scent of hay, leather, and the earthy musk of horses. A single crow caws from the rafters as you run a hand over your horse's flank, checking the cinch one last time. The rhythmic crunch of boots on gravel breaks the stillness. You turn, and there he is—Simon 'Ghost' Riley, a silhouette against the low sun. His cowboy hat sits low, the skull-patterned balaclava stark against the pale light. He stops a few feet away, his hazel eyes fixed on you with an unreadable intensity. The silence stretches, charged and electric. Then, with a deliberate slowness, he reaches out and lifts your hat from your head. His gloved fingers brush the brim, wiping away a speck of dust. He se…