Chapter Text
Soap gave them a brief tour of the bakery. Showing them the bathroom if they needed it while they were there, he showed them his favorite plant (which ghost types the name of the plant in his phone, totally not to save for a later date.)
And as well as showing them the area of the display tables. He knew Joseph would explore the different desserts on his own, so he didn’t feel the need to explain them one by one. Soap would though if the boy asks, he loves talking about baking. Ghost had to end up putting Joseph down from wiggling too much in his hold from excitement.
By the time he was actually on the ground he was running towards the pastry display. His eyes widening from the amount of desserts he can see. He could name a few that he knew, like macarons, (they were in multiple flavors, might he add), tres leche cake, etc.
“I though’ there was only eu– european goods here?” Joseph racked his brain to use more big words, as you do when you’re growing your vocabulary. Soap looked confused for a little bit, before realization hit on his face. “Oh– yer talkin’ about the tres leche righ’?” Joseph nods at the question. Not mentioning the fact that Soap butchered the pronunciation of ‘tres leche’.
A smile appeared on Soap’s face for the dozenth time today, as he answers the question: “One of my best mate’s specializes in Mexican pastries, so ah asked ‘im if he could teach me some of ‘em.” Joseph seems satisfied with his answer, as he continued to move throughout the bakery, viewing all of the goods.
You could hear little ‘oh’s or aw’s’ from the little sweets obsessed gremlin wondering around the bakery. Soap found it amusing and chuckled lowly.
Ghost felt the need to start up a civil conversation. He hasn’t really said anything since Joseph completely outing him to the man they just met, hell– they aren’t even friends yet.
Yet.
Yet.
That singular word echoed into his mind, it gave Ghost more confidence to talk to Soap, and maybe even get to know each other more. What was so interesting about this man that drew Ghost to him.
Everytime their eyes met, Simon could feel himself getting lost into those deep ocean blue eyes. Almost like waves from the sea are pulling him deeper and deeper into the darkness, and he’s letting it happen. He needed to stop staring at them. It was almost impossible to look away. Soap wasn’t even looking directly at him, he was paying attention to Joseph, most likely to make sure the child wouldn’t ransack his bakery.
Ghost was just looking from the side, yet he was so enraptured by him. He could spend the rest of his days just only looking at those eyes, nothing else.
Nope, nope– you have to focus. You just met this man. You barely even talked to him, just look away. You might never see him again, especially with your job.
He needs to stop with this fantasy. It was hard for Ghost to make friends as it is, who knows if Soap even wants to be his friend.
Or even be your partner.
Only in his dreams. Ghost willed himself to look in another direction. He looked around, attempting to find Joseph. He turned around to find Joseph with his mouth jaw dropped as he looked at all the sweets. Joseph was on his tippy toes in order for him to get the best view of them. He was in his own little world, not paying attention to anything else but what was right in front of him.
Good thing Joseph didn’t see Ghost looking at Soap with hearts in his eyes, or he would've made it known. Simon Riley is doomed, he’s falling for a Scottish man without even knowing the man for long, and without knowing Soap likes him back like that. He will never see the end of this from his family.
— — — —
Soap definitely didn’t notice eyes staring at him. Okay, the man knows he’s being stared at by the blonde man. Who wouldn’t? Even though Ghost looks like an enigma, he doesn’t look very discreet. It doesn’t help that he’s totally his type. Sue him. He liked tall and muscular blonde men, but Ghost was different.
It was something about him that’s pulling Soap towards the man. He wouldn’t lie though, Soap liked the way how Ghost was staring at him. And those crows feet near his eyes are doing something to him.
He’s never had anyone stare at him with wonder and a hint of lust in their eyes. He wasn’t used to it, but Soap could get used to Ghost staring at him.
Maybe even for the rest of your life.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, don’t set yourself up for failure.” Soap whispered to himself as reassurance. This was nerve racking for him. The silence was loud. Soap could hear light ringing sounds in his ear, only to be interrupted with some little mutters by Joseph.
He needed to do something to aid the silence, Soap couldn’t stand the awkwardness anymore. Soap coughed, “So…” That just made everything more awkward. Good going.
This whole situation feels like a highschool romance with how awkward they are.
He paused before saying anything else, he couldn’t hear Ghost shuffling around or make a sound for him to continue.
“What kind of cake are ye lookin’ for?” Soap said while he looked back at Ghost. That seemed to startle the man out of him looking at Soap’s eyesYou can see the cogs turning inside Ghost’s head when the question finally registered in his mind.
“Anything really, Joseph gets free reign with what he chooses on his birthday.” The blonde man responded. “But we limit him, he can get a medium sized cake with a small treat, nothing more, we don’t want him getting sick.” Ghost said with a slight mumble, feeling unbelievably shy in the moment. The mumble doesn’t go unnoticed by Soap.
“It seems like he’s wantin’ to take all the desserts with ‘im” Soap said with a giggle, a smile approaching on his face.
“Ah was the same when ah was younger, just loved sweets.” A nostalgic feeling creeping up his chest. He remembered all the nights he was awake with his mom making desserts for the neighbors. Soap loved making food and bringing smiles to people’s faces, that’s why he opened his bakery.
A lead.
“That’s what made you open a bakery?” Ghost questioned, the conversation was finally making progress.
“More or less.” A grin, “What, ye didn’t expect someone like me to own ah bakery?” Soap teased. His eyes are secretly narrowing to detect any strained movement.
Soap often got criticized by other people for owning a bakery, commonly saying that “It’s not a man’s job to own a bakery, it’s a woman’s place to be in the kitchen.” But Soap never cared for that, he wanted to do what he loved, and it so happened to be baking.
After being told this, Soap would walk away, but not after berating them about how a woman can do anything a man could, and more, then leaving with a smile on his face, and a frown on theirs. (It always made his day when they looked defeated.)
He wanted to see how Ghost would react to his playfulness. Also to test the waters with the man, just in case he was one of those people. But Soap was sure he wasn’t.
Ghost choked on his words. A twinge of apprehension bubbles in his stomach, burning him hot. He didn’t know if what he said was offensive, he should take back what he said.
“I’m sorry if that came out wrong-“ A laugh cut him off. That laugh. Ghost could hear that laugh his whole life and never grow to hate it. He’s already memorized it, his heart could never yearn for another again. Only Johnny’s.
“No yer alrigh’, I was just pullin’ yer leg.” Soap smiled. He seemed to be doing that a lot today. He doesn’t mind smiling for Ghost, though.
“You scared me, Johnny.” Ghost uttered out before processing the words he said. How is he going to get out of this now?
Ghost could physically feel himself getting hotter with embarrassment. He was so sure Soap could see his blush now, even with the mask on. Why is this man making him so hot and bothered? Minus the bothered part, he loves it. Relishing it.
Soap’s eyes widened in surprise, before settling back down in a heartfelt look. He hasn’t heard that nickname in a long time. Soap never even allowed his own family members to call him that.
He never liked being called Johnny, but with the way Ghost said it, Soap doesn’t hate it coming from his mouth. It never felt right until Ghost said it out of his mouth. Christ, he shouldn’t be feeling this flustered over Ghost calling him that.
Soap didn’t have enough time to stop himself, the next thing he knew he was blurting out:
“Ye didn’t Simon,” Simon. Simon. The simple name kept repeating in his mind, in abundance. No matter how hard Soap tried he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Did Simon even want to be called by his first name, did he not mind when Soap called him that, just like how Soap loved when Ghost called him “Johnny” as a nickname?
The way Soap could see how Ghost processed being called by his name, it made him want to laugh, if he wasn’t basically shitting his pants from the thought of him not liking it.
Soap could see Ghost was getting even more red, but he thought it was adorable. That so far helped the scot calm down a smidge. They both shared a longing, yearning look. Ghost feels himself let out a breath of relief, he was frightened with the fact that Soap didn’t like him, but he now undeniably knows.
At that moment, they both knew what was going on. Even after them both being ignorant of how the other acted, they know the tension in the air is a different type of tension.
A tension they don’t want to ignore. The pair continue staring at each other, not paying any mind to their surroundings, or a certain blonde hair child. Was this moving too fast? If so, they didn’t care.
A yell from a certain blonde child captured both of their attentions out of their stupor.
“Uncle Simon!” A screech came from the other side of the store. They flipped their heads around to see Joseph eyeing a certain cake. “I found tha’ cake I want!” Another excited yell came from the boy, his hands swinging happily on the sides of him. Ghost made a low, almost saddened hum, but Soap continued on with a sad smile too.
They both headed towards the section that Joseph was in. Once they made it to where the child was, he stuck out his hand and pointed at the one he wanted. “Tha’ one!” Both of their eyes land on a beautiful Cranachan cake. Ghost almost forgot Soap even owned this bakery by being so infatuated with him and not keeping up with his surroundings.
“Looks like this beautiful Cranachan cake is the winner of the world’s renowned cake connoisseur, Joseph!” Soap cheered him on, even though he was sad that they were going to leave.