COD Oneshots

Dilemma (Ghost)

Simon "Ghost" Riley had a problem. Well, it wasn't a problem per se, but it was something he had never felt before. It had snuck up on him like an enemy in the dead of night, catching him completely off guard. Since he started dating Y/N, everything had shifted. He wasn't the quiet, brooding soldier he used to be, the one who followed orders without hesitation, who kept his emotions buried under layers of tactical gear and a skull mask. He wasn't just Ghost anymore. Now, his world revolved around her.

It wasn't that he had become weak—he was still the same hardened warrior who could handle any mission thrown his way. But when it came to Y/N, everything changed. He found himself softening in ways he never imagined possible. He wanted to do things for her, to be close to her, to protect her from every danger, even though he knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. She wasn't the type to ask for anything, and yet he couldn't help himself.

He'd catch himself watching her when she wasn't looking, memorizing every detail of her face, the way she smiled when she thought no one was paying attention, or the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. God, that laugh. It had a way of dismantling the cold walls he had built around his heart, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

Ghost had never been the romantic type. In fact, he didn't even know what that was supposed to look like. But since Y/N had entered his life, he wanted to be everything for her. If he could, he would lay at her feet all day and worship her. Not that she would ever expect that of him—hell, she'd probably laugh at the thought. But it didn't stop him from wanting to do everything for her, whether she noticed it or not.

Like the way he made sure her favorite snacks were always stocked in the pantry. She had no idea how he managed to get them even in the most remote bases, but she didn't need to. Or how he memorized her coffee order, making it just right, every time, even though he had no clue what half the words meant when she first told him. It didn't matter; if it made her happy, he'd figure it out.

Even during missions, she was on his mind. He'd hear her voice in his head, reminding him to keep his temper in check, to stay focused. And when he returned from those missions, bruised and battered, all he could think about was getting back to her. She'd patch him up, fussing over him in that way that made him feel both embarrassed and grateful at the same time. He never needed anyone before, but now, all he needed was her.

But the strangest part of all was the way he felt when she touched him. It didn't matter if it was a casual brush of her hand against his arm or her fingers tangling in his hair when they were alone. Every touch sent a jolt through him, a reminder that she saw him—not just Ghost, the ruthless soldier, but Simon, the man beneath the mask.

He had always been afraid to let anyone get too close, afraid that if they saw the real him, they'd run the other way. But not Y/N. She saw him, truly saw him, and still chose to stay.

And that terrified him.

He wasn't used to being vulnerable. Vulnerability got people killed in his line of work. But with her, it was different. With her, it didn't feel like a weakness—it felt like trust. He trusted her with the parts of himself he had buried for so long, the parts he didn't even realize were still there until she came along and unearthed them.

Now, he was addicted to her in a way that scared him. Every moment away from her felt like an eternity, and when he was with her, the rest of the world faded away. His life used to be simple—complete the mission, follow orders, survive. But now? Now, all he could think about was making her happy, keeping her safe, and being the man she deserved.

Ghost never imagined himself being this person, someone who cared more about someone else than his own survival. He had spent years training himself to shut off his emotions, to be nothing more than a weapon. But Y/N had changed that. She had changed him.

And for the first time in his life, Simon Riley wasn't sure who he was anymore.

But as he watched her from across the room, her eyes meeting his with that familiar warmth, he realized that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing after all.