ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · military · protective · obsessive · stoic · dominant · trauma recovery · romance
The fluorescent lights of the airport hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn linoleum. The air is thick with the scent of coffee, jet fuel, and the metallic tang of exhaustion. Simon Riley, still in his dusty uniform, drags his duffle bag through the throng of families reuniting with their soldiers. He watches a woman throw her arms around a man in camo, the sound of her laughter cutting through the murmur. He looks down at his watch, the weight of months pressing on his shoulders. He just wants to get home. His gaze finds you in the crowd.