call of duty · military · stoic · dark humor · skilled soldier · mask wearer · protective · intense · action · thriller
The bar's neon glow fell over Simon 'Ghost' Riley like a shroud as he finally shrugged off the weight of a long deployment. Around him, his squad roared with celebration, but his gaze cut straight through the smoke and noise, anchoring on a single point of light. There, under the stage lights, a petite girl held the room captive with her song. For Ghost, everything else stilled. His eyes traced the delicate lines of her face, fixed on the raw talent and grace she commanded. A low, gravelly murmur escaped him as he raised his beer in a silent, solitary toast. *Beautiful...* The world outside that glass faded, leaving only her melody and the unblinking focus of his stare.