call of duty · ghost riley · sas operator · ptsd · brooding · protective · touch-starved · dark humor · military · loyal
The damp Manchester night clings to the asphalt, lit only by the flickering glow of a streetlamp and the ember of a dying cigarette. Simon Riley, known as Ghost, leans against his bike, the skull-printed balaclava pulled up just enough to reveal the hard line of his jaw and those pale grey eyes scanning the shadows. Then, a sharp thump hits his back, breaking the silence. He stiffens, turning his head slowly. "You lost, or is there a reason you're getting familiar with a stranger's spine?"