Taskforce 141 was known for its precision, its unyielding discipline, and the unwavering strength of its members. They were the best of the best, handpicked from around the world to undertake the most dangerous and critical missions. So when Y/N was selected to join their ranks as their new sniper, she knew she had big boots to fill.
Y/N had a reputation that preceded her. Her skills as a sniper were unmatched—able to take out targets from distances that seemed impossible to most. Her calm demeanor under pressure and her unerring accuracy made her a legend in her own right. But joining Taskforce 141 meant proving herself all over again, especially to its members.
Among the team, there was one figure who stood out above the rest: Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley. Ghost was a legend in his own right—a man whose cold, calculating nature was as intimidating as the skull-patterned balaclava he always wore. He was a man of few words, his icy demeanor making it clear that he trusted very few and liked even fewer. But beneath that hard exterior was a soldier who had seen too much, lost too much, and had long since buried his heart behind walls so thick that no one dared to breach them.
When Y/N arrived at the base, the team was already assembled. Captain Price greeted her with a firm handshake, his keen eyes assessing her with a nod of approval. Soap, with his usual jovial attitude, welcomed her warmly, cracking jokes to ease the tension. But Ghost? Ghost simply nodded, his gaze lingering on her for only a moment before he turned away, already focused on the mission briefing.
The first mission Y/N was assigned to was a high-risk operation deep in enemy territory. The objective was simple: eliminate a high-value target and extract without detection. It was the perfect opportunity for Y/N to prove her worth, and she was determined not to let the team down.
As they moved through the dark, hostile terrain, Y/N took her position on a ridge overlooking the enemy compound. Her rifle was steady, her breathing controlled, as she scanned the area for her target. The wind was strong, but she had accounted for it. Every factor, every variable was under her control.
Ghost, stationed nearby, watched her through his own scope, his dark eyes unreadable behind the mask. He had seen many snipers in his time, but something about Y/N’s focus and precision caught his attention. She was calm, unflinching, and when the target finally came into view, she didn’t hesitate. One shot, one kill. The target dropped, and Y/N exhaled slowly, her job done.
The extraction was smooth, and the team returned to base without incident. Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was relaxed, the team exchanging stories and banter. But Y/N noticed that Ghost remained as distant as ever, quietly cleaning his weapons, his presence a cold shadow on the edge of the group.
Over the next few weeks, Y/N and Ghost found themselves paired together on several missions. Their skills complemented each other—her long-range precision and his close-quarters expertise made them a formidable duo. But despite their professional synergy, Ghost remained as emotionally distant as ever. Y/N couldn’t help but wonder what lay beneath that mask—what kind of man Simon Riley really was.
Then came the mission that changed everything.
They were deep behind enemy lines, gathering intelligence from a heavily fortified enemy base. The operation was going smoothly until everything went wrong. An unexpected patrol caught them by surprise, and in the chaos, Y/N was separated from the team. Alone, she moved through the shadows, using her sniper rifle as her only means of survival.
Ghost, realizing Y/N was missing, felt a cold dread settle in his chest. Despite all his efforts to keep his emotions in check, the thought of something happening to her was unbearable. He moved with deadly efficiency, cutting through enemy lines to reach her. But when he found her, she was cornered, running low on ammo, with enemies closing in fast.
Without a word, Ghost moved to her side, his presence a welcome relief. Together, they fought off the remaining enemies, their teamwork seamless, their movements perfectly in sync. But when the last enemy fell, Y/N collapsed, exhaustion and a minor injury finally catching up to her.
Ghost was at her side in an instant, his usually cold eyes filled with a rare concern. “Y/N,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “Are you hurt?”
Y/N shook her head, brushing off the pain. “Just a scratch. I’ll be fine.”
But Ghost wasn’t convinced. Without thinking, he removed his glove and gently inspected the wound on her arm. His touch was surprisingly gentle, and Y/N looked up at him, surprised by the sudden change in his demeanor.
“Ghost… Simon…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m okay. Really.”
He looked at her, and for the first time, Y/N saw something behind those dark eyes—something vulnerable, something human. “I almost lost you,” he murmured, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She had never heard Ghost speak like this—never seen him let his guard down, not even for a second. It was as if the cold, unfeeling mask he always wore had cracked, revealing the man underneath.
“You didn’t lose me,” Y/N said softly, placing a hand on his. “I’m still here.”
For a long moment, they just looked at each other, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. And then, slowly, Ghost let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He reached up and, with a hesitant hand, pulled his balaclava off, revealing his face to her for the first time.
Simon Riley was a man who had seen too much, his face marked by scars both visible and invisible. But in that moment, all Y/N saw was the vulnerability in his eyes, the raw emotion that he had kept hidden for so long.
“Simon,” she whispered, her heart aching for him. “You don’t have to hide from me.”
Simon looked at her, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel. The walls he had built around his heart began to crumble, and he realized that in Y/N, he had found someone he could trust, someone who could see past the mask and the legend to the man underneath.
“I’ve been alone for so long,” Simon admitted, his voice rough with emotion. “But you… you make me want to be something more.”
Y/N reached up, gently cupping his face in her hand. “You don’t have to be alone anymore,” she said, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. “I’m here, Simon. I’m not going anywhere.”
And in that moment, something shifted between them. The cold, hard exterior that Simon had always relied on melted away, leaving behind the man who had finally found someone worth fighting for—not just on the battlefield, but in his heart as well.
From that day on, their relationship changed. Simon was still the fierce, relentless soldier that Taskforce 141 needed him to be, but with Y/N, he allowed himself to be more. He let her in, sharing the parts of himself that he had kept hidden for so long.
Their connection deepened with each mission, each shared experience, and soon, it became clear to everyone that what Simon and Y/N had was something rare and unbreakable. They were partners in every sense of the word, and their bond made them stronger, both as soldiers and as people.
In Y/N, Simon found the warmth and understanding he had been missing for so long. And in Simon, Y/N found someone who saw her not just as a soldier, but as a person—someone worth fighting for.
Together, they faced the challenges ahead, knowing that no matter what the world threw at them, they would face it together. Because in each other, they had found the one thing that had always eluded them: a reason to hope, and a reason to love.
