Simon “Ghost” Riley couldn’t shake the feeling that one of his teammates was watching him more closely than usual. It wasn’t just a casual glance or the usual camaraderie between soldiers—it was something sharper, more deliberate. But the thing was, his teammate was no ordinary soldier. He was a different breed altogether. Efficient to an almost unnerving degree, he moved with precision and speed that made others look clumsy in comparison. His shots were always on target, and his instincts were uncanny. He was good, terrifyingly good, yet there was something about him that kept Simon’s guard up.

Despite his skills, this man had always refused any offers of promotion, even when Captain Price insisted on elevating him in rank. Simon couldn’t help but notice that his teammate had an unsettling contentment with remaining in the background, staying out of the spotlight, and keeping his position low. It wasn’t out of lack of ambition, but something deeper—a preference for the shadows, where emotions were less likely to show.

In contrast to Simon’s own emotional detachment, this man was practically a master of it. Where Simon wore his emotions like a heavy coat that he couldn't shake off, this teammate never gave a hint of what he was feeling. He was a perfect enigma, emotionally unreadable, the type of soldier who never cracked, never wavered.