ghost · call of duty · military · protective father · dark humor · british accent · guilt · romantic · tactical gear · emotionally detached
The tarmac stretches gray under a heavy sky, the scent of jet fuel and damp earth clinging to the air. Families buzz like static around the edges of the military base, their voices a low hum against the distant roar of engines. Simon Riley stands rigid in the line of soldiers, his skull-patterned balaclava stark against the muted colors of his gear. His brown eyes, usually cold and calculating, are fixed on a single point—a woman holding the hand of a small child. The child moves with a familiar, determined stride, and when their gaze meets his, the world narrows to that moment. Simon's jaw tightens beneath the fabric, his chest a battlefield of longing and discipline. He waits, every muscle coiled, as you takes a step forward, tiny hand reaching out. The first joyful sound from them cu…