Chapter Text
The mess hall was quiet this morning when Soap entered. It was quite rare to see but he enjoyed the few minutes of silence and calm before the morning rush. Before soldiers and new recruits in dire need of caffeine would start invading the space.
He picked a cup of coffee and a small breakfast before installing himself at a table in the back. He cringed a bit at the coffee’s taste. It was tepid at best and seriously lacked flavour. He always regretted becoming a “coffee snob” as his sister would say ,“if you get used to the good stuff you will complain until your next time home John”. As always she had been annoyingly right. But it was the best he would have until his next leave and it still had the merit to wake him a little. He took a second swing. Take that Mandy, still able to drink shit.
He felt more than saw Ghost make his way to his table. Soap knew that he would sit by his side and set down a cup of tea on the table, one he would not bother drinking in the mess hall. He would just keep it in his hands as a means to warm them while Soap finished his breakfast.
It had become a habit of theirs, meeting here every morning they could, and Johnny was delighted that Ghost would seek his presence. He was glad for the company and he thought maybe Ghost might enjoy it too. He knew better than to talk about it though, he quite liked their moments and it would be a shame if acknowledging it made the l.t close off and run away.
“I know you have a reputation to maintain l.t, but someone will stab you if you continue being so ghostly around base. Not everyone is as used to your antics as yours truly.”
The cup sat on the table and soon after Ghost’s arm brushed his side, sitting close on the small bench.
“Someone already tried.”
“Tried what?”
“Stabbing me.”
This made Johnny stop mid toast, his head snapping to the left and looking at Ghost properly for the first time this morning. A bit of jam fell sadly on his plate, vanquished by the harsh movement. He set the bread on its plate to avoid mushing it in his hand.
“Who?” He asked, voice tight.
“Rodolfo. He apparently startles easily when asleep.”
“What did he do?”
Ghost rolled his eyes, the conversation already tiring him out.
“Tried to cut me when I approached to wake him up. Apologised profusely when he saw it was me.”
No need to mention the gun, it was already embarrassing enough for the both of them.
The sergeant seemed to relax a bit and levelled him up with a disbelieving glare.
“Somehow l.t, and please do not take offence, but I feel like it would be your fault.”
Ghost’s hands shifted on his mug, fingers lightly playing with the label of his shitty tea bag.
“How would it be my fault?”
Soap smirked and shrugged nonchalantly, biting the last of his toast.
“I don't know l.t seems to me like you glided in his room uninvited and without a noise, no wonder he reacted that way.”
“ I just walked up to him, Johnny.”
“ Yes, like a ghost, Ghost.” He said, flicking the man’s hand. “ The guy can pretty much recognize us all by the noise we make alone. You basically triggered his spidersens”
Before Ghost could protest, another tray clattered on their table, Alejandro plopping himself heavily in front of them.
“Who has a spidersens?” He asked brightly, already too awake for such an early morning.
Johnny greeted him with as much enthusiasm while Ghost offered a small nod.
“Rudy does hermano, He almost jumped Ghost when he tried to wake him up. Actually no one can approach him when he is asleep.”
Alejandro burst out laughing.
“Must have caught him on bad days then, I think Rudy is the heaviest sleeper I know. An earthquake couldn't raise him up.”
The intrigued look that Soap and Ghost exchanged was lost on their friend, too preoccupied digging in his food to see it.
“I would like to see that if it’s true,” mumbled Soap.
“Hey who knows, maybe one day hermano.”
The subject was dropped quickly and the three men chatted idly( at least two chatted and one listened intently) until the colonel was called by his duties, waving them goodbye.
A comfortable silence settled on the two remaining men. Ghost’s tea was almost cold now, not providing as much heat as before, but Johnny didn't seem like he was ready to go, eyes fixed vaguely in his empty cup, brows slightly pinched.
Slowly lifting his hand so as to not alert the man, Ghost quickly flicked him on the nose. Soap squeaked in pain, his hands immediately coming to protect his face, a look of absolute betrayal showing in his eyes. A lesser man than Ghost would have laughed at the sight. He settled for a satisfied huff.
"Don't think too hard Johnny, it's not good for you."
Soap hummed, eyebrows still pinched and now pouting,fingers mindlessly rubbing his sore nose.
"Did you apologise ?" he asked quietly.
"What"
Soap shifted uncomfortably. He never had a problem babbling and talking to Ghost before, but now he seemed to shy away.
"It”s stupid but did you say sorry to Rudy for scaring him l.t?"
Ghost stared at him.
"No" He deadpanned.
Johnny deflated a bit, dropping his eyes back on his coffee.
“Oh, ok. Sorry it was dumb.”
It was not. He had thought about it. The raw fear in Rudy’s eyes had been new, something he never saw before in the quiet steady man. It had twisted something in his chest. Too vulnerable. He hadn’t enjoyed being the one putting this emotion on his face.
Johnny shifted, silently starting to clean his plate. Was he disappointed in Ghost? It sure looked like it. Why was he? He didn't apologise but it wasn’t his fault if the sergeant major had issues. He wasn't the one trigger happy guy trying to pierce the skin of everyone happening to be in close vicinity of him sleeping (actually he could be that guy but that was beside the point).
Ghost sighted and closed his eyes.
"I stomp around when I’m close to him."
Johnny’s head snapped up, wide eyes searching for his. He refused to meet them, his cold tea suddenly becoming much more interesting.
"Sorry what ? I didn't catch that"
Ghost cursed. He hadn't planned on revealing that and the bastard was making him repeat.
"I stomp when I pass his door and when we are not on mission so he knows it's me and doesn't panic again. " He grumbled.
When he looked up, the bright grin illuminating Johnny’s face almost made his breath catch.
"Wow, glad you’re stone cold Simon. If not I would have thought you care. " He jocked gently.
Simon was glad the small smile that slipped on his lips was hidden by the mask.
"Shut up Johnny"
***
The “maybe one day” as Alejandro had put it had eventually come a month later, the issue almost forgotten.
It had been a ruff mission, one that had them particularly exhausted.
They all sported scratches and bruises but luckily nothing that would not go away with time.
Rudy stumbled in the safe house, entering last after making a last tour around the property, assuring himself that no one had followed them.
He rubbed his eyes, wincing slightly when the palm of his hand caught on the compress on his cheek. A bastard had taken him by surprise and nicked him with his knife. He had been lucky, the guy was quick but he was quicker. He had taken a small beating anyway. He was glad Alejandro hadn't seen it happen, he knew he would have been teased endlessly about it. Ale always liked to say he was getting old. Seeing how his knees popped when he stayed in the same position too long, or how his bad shoulder was feeling right now, maybe he wasn’t so far from the truth.
He locked the door behind him, checking the windows one last time for suspicious movements.
The house was a little hunting cabin hidden in the mountains, nothing fancy. An entrance corridor leading to a large living room, a small kitchen on the side and somewhere a bathroom.
More hidden than safe he guessed. Seeing that the living room was only furnished with a small couch and a table surrounded by chairs, it was certainly not made for long stays.
Soap poked his head out of the kitchen.
“Is the coast clear?”
Rudy smiled softly,
“Yeah nothing to worry about for now.”
Soap nodded following him into the empty living room. He could hear the other men bickering in the kitchen.
“They are fighting about how to make the tea. Alejandro is keeping them from murdering each other. Fuckin brits am I right?”
Rodolfo chuckled, slowly shrugging his rifle off his stiff shoulder and placing it neatly against the wall. He noticed Ale’s thick vest draped across one of the chairs.
“The perks of drinking coffee is that they won't bother you.”
Soap laughed and guided him back to the kitchen.
“ Alejandro said the same thing.”
Rodolfo settled on the door frame watching the mess of the five men making tea in front of him. Ale noticed him immediately smiling brightly, before catching the patch on his cheek; his face falling.
“What happened?”
Rudy smiled reassuringly.
“I’ll tell you later colonel, it’s nothing serious”
Alejandro frowned seemingly not convinced but his attention was diverted once again by the lieutenant and Gaz arguing about the right temperature of the water.
Rodolfo reached for his shoulder, massaging it a bit. A yawn sneaked on him and he hid his face in his elbow. Damn he had been the last one on look out last night, and it was catching up on him.
A rough hand squeezed his good shoulder. Price looked at him with something akin to softness and amusement in his eyes.
“You should take the couch son, you look dead on your feet, the helicopter back to base is still a few hours away, we will wake you up when it’s time.”
Rudy didn’t even try to argue, and nodded gratefully. A nap sounded heavenly.
“Wake me up if anything happens alright?”
“Will do, hermano” shouted Gaz from where he was trying not to burn water under Ghost and Alejandro’s watchful eyes.
Passing by the table Rodolfo shrugged most of his equipment, keeping on his tac vest, gun and some knives. A safe house is only safe until something happens, better be safe than sorry. He shivered a bit reaching for his hood and pulling it over his head. His hand brushed Alejandro’s vest hesitantly. He wouldn’t mind if he used it as a blanket…the house was cold, and the weight of it would help him sleep…Without thinking further he grabbed it tightly and went to the small couch, crumbling on it.
He struggled a bit before finding a comfortable position where his gear wouldn't dig in his side or shoulders. Finally nestling himself between the pillows and Ale’s vest on his shoulders, covering half of his face, he closed his eyes. He was out like a light in a minute, lulled by the voices of the others.
Soon the men ventured in, quietly settling around the small table with their drinks, trying to not let their eyes linger on the sleeping form on the couch. They didn't make any comment when Alejandro searched for his vest and froze when he understood where it was. They hid their smirks when a deep flush took over his complexion and he cleared his throat.
“ Care for a game of cards?”
Everyone nodded, indulging in the obvious diversion.
They played silently until Price’s radio chimed and he made his exit to the kitchen. He came back less than five minutes later and sat back on his chair.
“ Well lads, we better wake him up, the helo will be at our meeting point in an hour, we must be ready”
All of them tensed. Waking Rodolfo up was always tricky. Ghost could swear that he saw Soap and Gaz preparing themselves for a game of rock paper scissors under the table.
Before the game could take place Alejandro got up swiftly.
“ I’ll better go and shake him awake then right?” he said with a grin and a wink.
He discreetly walked to the couch, and Soap had half a mind to tell him to be careful, but a look from Ghost, finger on his mouth, quieted him down.
They were in the military, they all had been in more dire situations, but nothing was as riveting as seeing if Alejandro was going to get jumped by the sleeping soldier. He reached the couch without trouble and spoke softly.
“Hey Rudy wake up, it's time. The helo is coming.”
The man did not stir a bit.
Alejandro huffed, a dead sleeper this one. He leaned over the man bracing himself with one arm on the armrest, the other one coming to rest on the side of Rudy's neck, his thumb gently drawing patterns on his jaw. He frowned a bit when his fingers traced the compress covering the nasty cut on Rudy's cheek. He would definitely need to check on it himself later, he didn’t even know if Rudy had the time to clean it before applying the bandaid.
Soap leaned on Ghost.
“Ah yes so much for ‘shaking him’" he whispered.
The l.t shushed him.
Rudy leaned in the touch sighting happily before finally opening his eyes with difficulty. Alejandro smiled sweetly at him.
“Buenos dias sleeping beauty, great of you to join us in the land of the living. Slept well ?”
Soap stifled a giggle at Rudy’s wide eyed expression. Alejandro’s hand was still gently cupping his cheek, mindful of the cut, and the poor man seemed to swallow with some difficulty, his cheeks reddening. If it wasn't so entertaining Johnny might have felt a bit embarrassed about witnessing the moment.
“Sure… Did I miss something ?” Rudy stammered.
“Na, nothing interesting anyway, it's just time for us to go home.”
Alejandro's hand travelled to his shoulder where he gave him a light squeeze before taking his jacket back and returning to the table.
Soap doesn't think he invented the way Rodolfo immediately shivered at the loss.
“See, told you. Heavy sleeper” Alejandro said fondly, putting his vest back on, and gathering the cups.
Gaz waited for him to disappear in the kitchen and checked if Rodolfo was out of hearshot before leaning on the table.
“ So, how much are we betting on them getting their shit together and in how much time?” He whispered excitedly.
Price groaned, exasperated. “Soon I hope, I'm not made to deal with this Soap Opera Bullshit.”