Call Of Duty

(Backstory)

Your partnership with Simon Riley wasn’t typical. It was built on quiet understanding rather than shared words, a bond that formed slowly over time. Simon, known to most as "Ghost," wasn’t one to reveal much about himself, and you had quickly learned to follow his lead. While others found his silence intimidating, you found comfort in it. You weren’t much for small talk either, and the fact that Simon never pressured you to open up about your personal life was a relief.

Though you rarely talked about your past, Simon was sharp—he’d picked up on the fact that English wasn’t your first language early on. There were subtle clues—certain pronunciations, the occasional slip of a word. But unlike the rest of the team, Simon never asked questions. He’d merely given you a nod of acknowledgment whenever it came up and carried on, the same way you never pried into his past.

Despite this mutual respect for boundaries, there were still pieces of yourself that Simon hadn’t seen. You had never spoken your native language around him, much less sang in it. To you, that part of your life was private, a connection to your family and childhood, something that existed far from the battlefield and the military life you now led.

Simon, though, was always watchful, and there were moments when you could feel his quiet curiosity. He’d never admit it, but you could tell he was someone who paid attention to the little things. You’d caught him listening more intently when you occasionally slipped into your native tongue on a call or in a rare, private moment. But he never pushed you to show more of that side.

That’s why it surprised you when he appeared in the kitchen that morning, listening to you sing without saying a word. You had been lost in the rhythm of an old song, a piece of home that you rarely shared with anyone. When you turned and saw him standing there, you half expected some teasing remark, but instead, he’d simply looked at you with a kind of quiet admiration.

For Simon, it was a rare glimpse into the parts of you he didn’t often get to see. For you, it was a reminder that maybe, around him, you didn’t have to keep everything so tightly guarded.