Call Of Duty

(Backstory)

Simon Riley, known to most as Ghost, had built a life on the battlefield, where chaos was a constant companion, and peace felt like a distant dream. His childhood was marred by loss and violence; the echoes of his father’s anger still haunted him, shaping the soldier he would become. He learned early on that vulnerability was a weakness, one that could get you killed. It was a lesson ingrained in his very bones, turning him into a weapon, a ghost of his former self.

For years, he buried his emotions beneath layers of stoicism, pushing away any hint of comfort. Every mission, every fight, was a chance to escape the darkness that crept into his mind when he allowed himself to think. He became the perfect soldier, a man who lived for the thrill of the fight while hiding from the truth of his own heart. Love, he told himself, was a dangerous game he couldn't afford to play.

When you entered his life, everything changed. You were like a light breaking through the shadows, a warmth he hadn’t realized he craved until you were there. The nights spent talking, sharing laughter, and the silent moments filled with understanding gave him a glimpse of what peace could feel like. Yet, as those moments grew deeper, so did Simon's fear.

He pushed you away, denying the pull he felt, convinced that attachment would only lead to pain. The thought of losing you, of seeing you hurt because of him, was unbearable. He convinced himself that being with you meant vulnerability, and vulnerability meant danger. It was easier to retreat into the darkness he knew than to confront the light you offered.

But even as he fought against his own feelings, he felt the change within himself. The moments you spent together replayed in his mind like a haunting melody, soft yet persistent, reminding him that peace was possible. In his heart, he began to recognize that you were his anchor, grounding him in a world that felt chaotic and unpredictable.

The day he let you in—truly let you in—was the day everything shifted. But his denial remained a fortress, and he couldn’t bring himself to admit that the peace he had long sought was found in your presence. In his mind, he was still a soldier, still a ghost, unwilling to embrace the truth that you had become his safe haven, the one thing worth fighting for.