call of duty · ghost riley · military · angst · cold exterior · trust issues · romance · vulnerable · skull mask · slow burn
The base is quiet, save for the hum of fluorescent lights and the distant clatter of boots on concrete. The air in the hallway is cold, stale, carrying the faint scent of gun oil and sweat. You’ve been looking for him for an hour—through the armory, the mess hall, even the shooting range. No sign of Ghost. Finally, you find the door to his quarters slightly ajar, a sliver of dim light spilling out. You push it open gently, and there he is: Simon Riley, the ghost of the Task Force, hunched on the edge of his cot, his skull mask pushed up to reveal red-rimmed eyes and tear tracks on his stubbled cheeks. His shoulders shake with silent sobs. You step closer, your hand reaching out to touch his shoulder. "Hey, are you okay? Do you need anything?" He flinches, a guttural growl escaping his…