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Ghost wasn't much for sentimentality, he never could be in his youth, and even less so in his day to day life. He was aware on how he projected himself.
Large, intimidating, scary.
A stupid elementary leveled word but it describes him best, he thinks.
He knew he scared the daylights out of most people he came across, on base, off base, back home or wherever he went. Mothers grabbing their children and pushing them into their sides, Men bristling at the fact there was a dangerous man near (He couldn't blame the men, he was more dangerous, more than any person should be), the kids of these people hiding behind their legs.
The recruits whispering behind him as he walked to meetings, it doesn't bother him that they talk, never has. It doesn't bother him that he spends most of his time alone, despite being in a base full of people.
He doesn't care to make friends, doesn't care to partake in the hangouts other soldiers do. He's a fucking Lieutenant, he has better things to do. He doesn't need anyone besides someone to point and tell him what to kill.
Ghost wasn't expecting a small woman to show up and change everything. Change him. Fucking Teddy.
She was being added to 141, despite being extremely young, younger than any of them. He couldn't help but be apprehensive and it showed in his eyes as he glanced at her while standing next to Price, Gaz and Soap. His hands clasped behind his back as Price greeted the woman.
"Nice to meet you guys, I hope I'm not a bother." Her smile was demure, looking up at all the men with her hands shoved into her pockets.
A quick glance told Simon she was nervous, her fingers playing with something, maybe a ring or a strand of loose fabric as she fidgeted in place.
He kept raking his eyes along her body, not in a predatory way but merely observing. Taking in the facts, she was tiny, he couldn't see any muscle mass on her and he couldn't wrap his head around why she was standing in front of him as a new member. Laswell had recommended her though, and Simon supposed that was enough. He'd train her like anyone else and make sure she was worthwhile having around.
Soap spoke up beside him, walking towards the woman and giving her a good natured punch to her shoulder.
"Welcome to the team Lass!" Her smile looked a little less strained at that.
Ghost shook his head while he stares down at his beer, swirling the liquid in its glass, rolling his eyes to himself as he got caught up in the memory of them meeting. He felt like a stupid teenager with a crush, he was way too old to act like this.
It has been about 3 years now, if he was remembering correctly. Where the hell had the time gone? She was good at her job, a damn good soldier, he almost felt bad for doubting her when she showed up when she did.
Teddy saved his ass more than he'll ever care to admit on the field. The girl has guts, always listening, always checking in on the others, always making sure to stick to the mission and get it done.
She was a talkative one, the first one to talk to him and to make sure he felt included in the conversation at all times. Making sure everyone was taken care of. To making an effort to sit next to him in the mess hall, chatting away about her interests despite him never offering a word back, just merely grunting when he rolls up his mask to take a bite of the food. To offering to take watch on any of their missions so he could get a rest. He was usually the first watch, he preferred it that way. Doesn't mean it didn't get to him how she genuinely offered every single time though.
"I'll take it from here L.T. "
"Kid, you look like you're about to pass out standing up, go rest."
"But Gh-"
"Kid."
She'd pout but does as asked. A good soldier most days but a pain in the ass others. He couldn't help but find it endearing at how freely she expressed her emotions.
A selfish greedy part of him loved that she was so open with him, that she lived with him, she openly expressed her care and love for him. Ghost couldn't help but wish she'd only share her affections with him, no one else. But he knew better to push his luck and accepted what he could.
It made him feel weird, She made him feel weird. to be given attention and to be cared for. But he couldn't find it in him to hate it. She had wormed her way into his cold heart, a line she had snorted at when he spoke it to Soap over comms.
"Ghost, you literally tried to fight my family before because they were being mean to me, you're not cold, at all."
He remembers that it had been around the time before they dealt with Graves. They had become closer, so he didn't hesitate to pack her up and take her with him. He remembers taking her to his flat and showing her the spare bedroom and telling her point blankly, she was staying with him from here on out.
The smile she let out was bashful but full of happiness, her arms thrown over his shoulders as he gently patted her back in response.
He looks up and sees her and Soap, both laughing beside him. Her in between them while Price and Gaz sat in a booth not too far away. It was one of their group hangouts that typically happened every other week if they (Ghost, Soap, Price, Gaz and Teddy, and occasionally Laswell) were all on base. It was a tradition Teddy took very seriously, wanting to spend time with everyone any chance she got.
She was dressed down, a loose sweater on her frame while she wore leggings, looking close enough he could see patches of ink on her skin on her shoulders.
A hum left his throat as he followed the line work on her arms, wondering what she had loved enough to ink on her forever. Though she'd been staying with him for awhile, she dressed modestly, and she very rarely had to get undressed in their line of work, if she did it was always in medbay to be cared for.
Soap must've had the same thought and none too gently tugs on her sleeves, smiling a bit too wide when he gestures towards her arm.
"Aye Lass, what's under there? I see some new ink if 'm not mistaken."
"Oh! Yeah, I got it a few days ago since we're on a bit of a break." She gleamed, nodding her head as she used one hand to gently brush her fingers over the fabric.
Strange, she'd usually talk about the appointment leading up to it, bouncing off the walls in excitement. He slightly turns his body in her direction, glancing at her arm.
"Cmon, let ol' Soap see." He pulls her long sleeve up, staring at the tattoo with a little shine in his eye.
"What a funny looking bloke, does he have a name?" Soap murmured, softly poking at the plastic that covered the tattoo. A small smirk on his lips.
"Uhhhh… I mean, nope! He's nameless."
Simon wasn't stupid, she was avoiding the question and lying for whatever reason. She was a damn good liar when it counted but this? This was a shit lie.
"I can tell you're full of it Bonnie, Show Ghost while you're at it~ I'll give ya some space." Soap pats her shoulder, getting down from his stool and making his way to the other two brits.
A subtle blush was creeping up her face, shooting a not so subtle glance towards the huge man to her other side. He raised a non visible eyebrow at her, jutting his chin towards himself, silently asking to see what all the fuss was brit.
She moves her arm slowly towards Ghost, his eyes zeroing in on it.
It was a ghost.
A fucking ghost.
He felt his heart stop, she did fucking not get a ghost onto her skin without remembering his call sign. She had done this on purpose. It was intentional.
"Kid." He rasped out, his hand shooting to grab at her arm and bringing it closer towards him, more gentle than a giant had any right to be, still staring at the black lines that now decorated her forearm. He couldn't help but brush his thumb against it.
Teddy let out a nervous giggle, cracking her fingers as her body shivered under his touch. Her eyes zeroing in on anywhere else but his face, her face getting redder.
"You weren't meant to see it." She squeaks.
"You think I'd never see this? Really?" Ghost rolls his eyes, still gently holding her arm against his body.
God his hand fully covered her own, the sheer difference of size was mind boggling. How could someone be so fucking tiny. She broke the small silence that came over them, still staring at the wall.
"I hope it isn't weird, it's just that you're really important to me and I would never do this usually because tattoos are a bad way to show love but you know- if you hate it I can schedule a laser ap-"
"Breathe Teds, repeat that word for me." A few seconds passed.
"What? Appointment?" Her widened eyes looked like they would pop out of her head.
"No, starts with a L."
"...Love."
She looked like she wanted to get up and run, so he turned her stool towards himself and stuck out a leg to cut off her escape route.
"Atta girl, you love me?" Ghost was joking, despite the evidence right in front of him, he didn't believe he was loved by her, he didn't think anyone could love someone like him.
Without missing a beat, "More than anything, Simon."
"Fuck, alright then." He breathes out, his eyes softening as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his heart squeezing at the fact that she leaned into the contact.
"Guess I need to get a teddy on me, yeah?" So much for no sentimentality.