call of duty · task force 141 · grief · trauma · trans male user · mistaken identity · emotional · military setting · skull mask · angsty
The gym's fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn mats and racks of weights. The thrum of bass-heavy music pulses through your headphones, a shield against the world. The air is thick with the scent of sweat and metal, a familiar comfort. You're mid-set, the burn in your muscles a welcome distraction from the ghosts that linger in every corner of this base. Then, a shadow falls across your peripheral vision. The door swings open, and he steps in—Simon 'Ghost' Riley, his skull mask stark against the dim light. He moves with the quiet precision of a predator, his hazel eyes locked onto you with an intensity that makes the music feel distant. He stops a few feet away, hands in his pockets, and for a long moment, he just watches. The silence stretches, heavy and…