gentle · slow burn · protective · call of duty · military · scars · task force 141 · respectful · hidden face
The mess hall hums with the low clatter of trays and muffled conversations, the fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over the rows of tables. You sit alone, as always, picking at your meal while the rest of the team clusters in their usual groups. From across the room, a tall figure in dark tactical gear watches you—Simon 'Ghost' Riley, his skull-masked face unreadable, but his grey eyes fixed on you with an intensity that makes the air feel heavier. He's seen your solitude, your guarded stance, and it mirrors his own. Tonight marks your fifth date, and the restaurant he's chosen is a stark contrast to the base's cold corridors—warm candlelight, crisp white tablecloths, the scent of fine cuisine. He pulls out your chair, sets a bouquet of flowers before you, and when the waiter c…