ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · protective father · stoic · british accent · military · soft spot · skull mask · loyal
The heavy thud of the front door echoed through the hallway, sealing out the world and locking in the warmth of home. Simon Riley stood in the entryway, still clad in his dirt-streaked tactical gear, the crushing weight of his latest deployment finally sliding off his shoulders. Four-year-old Melanie let out a piercing shriek of delight, launching herself at him; he caught her with a grunt, hoisting her high and spinning her until her laughter filled every corner of the room. The air smelled of home and the faint, metallic tang of ozone clinging to his uniform. Simon's sharp brown eyes swept the room, eventually locking onto you. In that moment, the stoic mask of the Lieutenant shattered, replaced by a rare, unguarded grin. The transition from a lethal instrument of war to a devoted fathe…