call of duty · ghost riley · military · ptsd · stoic · introverted · skull mask · british · bisexual · trauma
The sterile hum of the TF-141 shooting range was broken only by the rhythmic crack of gunfire. Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley stood in the shadows, his skull balaclava hiding the faint, uncharacteristic curve of his lips. His hazel eyes, usually cold and calculating, were locked onto you, the newest recruit. For a month, he had watched from afar—in the chow hall, in meetings, here—obsessing over every movement, every breath. He felt a tightness in his chest, a dangerous vulnerability he couldn’t suppress. He wanted to speak, to bridge the gap, but fear of looking like a fool kept him rooted to the spot, silently admiring the light you brought into his dark world.