Chapter Text
Soap felt unease and fear creep up his arms, causing goosebumps. He looked like a bloody vampire, or a fucking dog! He stared at himself in pure shock, blood trickling down from his lip, falling down and splattering onto the slightly yellowed sink. He felt his breaths pick up as his
anxiety spiked, and he gripped the sink tighter.
“What the fuck…” He whispered. He lifted a hand, his fingers shaking ever so slightly. He carefully, gingerly ran his index over a canine, gently touching the tip. It was sharp, with a
pointed yet rounded tip, perfect for ripping through anything if enough force was given. Soap felt his breath hitch slightly. This cannot be real right? This is just one of those freaky dreams where something bad happens, right He accidentally touched his finger too hard against the fang, causing him to wince as he pulled his hand back. His eyes fixated on his fingertip, where a welt
of blood started to bead up. “Oh God… It's real..” He whispered.
His hands shook as he ran his hand under the faucet, watching the blood rinse away, thin red streaks that swirled into the drain. “What the hell is happening to me…” He whispered, his voice cracking just barely. He checked
the now rinsed wound, which was already scabbing over. He looked back at his face, those two canines slightly poking out from his lips. There was no way that he could think of that could excuse this- especially not to people as observant as his team. He tried to take a deep breath,
though it hitched with his anxiety. He instinctively took a step back, his hands trembling rapidly.
His back hit the wall, though all he could see were those fangs, the sharpened canines that were extremely obvious in how his lips tilted now. Soap rubbed an eye, trying to think of a way to think- to calm down, anything. But the sight of his reflection mocked him. He looked like a bloody monster, and something in his stomach twisted with dread. If this was happening, what else could happen to him? He swallowed thickly, though it felt like a lump that refused to go away.
“Right…” He finally spoke again, taking yet another deep breath, his chest hurting slightly. “It’ll be okay, yeah? Nobody will notice?” He stepped back to the mirror, opening his mouth. All four canine teeth, sharpened and long, bent at an outward angle, as if meant for grabbing and ripping. Blood stained the roots and gums, making him internally cringe. He closed his mouth again, the taste of iron lingering on his tongue.
He stepped out of the restroom again. He kept his gaze averted, and his mouth shut as he walked to debrief. He could barely pay attention to the meeting, his brain too focused, anxious on what was happening to him. The words rambled in and out his ears, but he couldn't process, his brain screaming questions.
What is happening?
Why me?
What could have caused this?
He only snapped out of what felt like only seconds when Ghost nudged his shoulder.
“Johnny.” He hissed, as if he had been repeating his name over and over. Soap blinked, the glaze over his eyes fading.
“What?” Soap tilted his head, just slightly. He silently cursed to himself, realizing he wasn't paying attention, and now Ghost was, in the nicest way possible, pissed off at him.
“Were you even paying attention?” Despite the mask that hid the lieutenant’s face, Soap could tell he was raising a skeptical eyebrow. His brown eyes were locked onto Soap, and he felt himself stiffen- as if Ghost could see right through him.
“Ah- Sorry, Lt.. Must be tired from the mission?” Soap forced a small grin, but it quickly faltered when he remembered his toothy situation. It turned tight-lipped, though Soap could still feel the points brushing against the skin of his lip. Ghost’s eyes narrowed, examining, suspicious.
“That shouldn't keep you from paying attention to a debrief.” Ghost scolded, before looking back at Price, who was still talking. Soap swallowed thickly, nodding slightly, and forced himself to listen
—
Soap sighed as he flopped onto his mattress. Despite the creaking and the stiffness, he felt more than comfortable. He stared up at the bunk above him, letting out a breath that he felt like he had been holding. His head turned to check his phone for the time- 2300. He leaned his head back, resting it on the pillow.
His eyes slowly closed, his breathing evening out for the first time in a long time, and he fell asleep