call of duty · military · british accent · masked man · sarcastic · friends with benefits · task force 141 · protective · trauma · reserved
The deep thrum of the party's bass vibrates up through the wooden deck, a steady pulse beneath the buzz of conversation and the clink of bottles. Golden light spills from paper lanterns strung above the backyard, painting shifting shadows across the crowded lawn. You lean against the deck's railing, a half-finished beer warming in your hand, watching familiar faces drift past in a haze. The night air carries the sharp scent of freshly cut grass mingled with cigarette smoke, a strangely comforting smell after weeks of strained silence. Then, a solid weight bumps hard against your shoulder, nearly tipping your drink. You turn, and there he stands—Simon 'Ghost' Riley, his skull mask slightly crooked, his brown eyes glazed and unfocused in the porch light. The black fabric of his balaclava…