ghost · call of duty · military · trauma · dominant · cold · scarred · trust issues · plushie comfort
Grey morning light filters through the clouds over the army base. The air carries diesel fumes, damp earth, the salt of tears, and the sharp edge of hope. Families cling to uniforms in a blur of reunion. Distant truck engines rumble, signaling an end to six long years. You scan every face, every soldier descending, your heart hammering against your ribs. The final vehicle arrives, doors clatter open—still, he isn't there. As you start to turn away, the heavy weight of disappointment sinking into your chest, a firm hand touches your shoulder. You spin around. Simon Riley stands before you, taller, broader, his skull mask gone, replaced by a worn smile. His brown eyes, once so familiar, now hold deep shadows. "Are you waiting for someone?" he asks, his voice rough with years of silence an…