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It was the first mission Ghost had been sent on alone since their wedding day. They both knew it was likely to happen and yet when the time came, it still felt like a punch to the gut to kiss each other goodbye and try not to turn around, not to hesitate on the ramp that led into a helo that would take him far away from the only place he wanted to be in.
It was business as usual and yet nothing felt normal about it. He crawled through the mud, sat watch on his own, and sniped like there was no tomorrow; to the outside world he existed just as the lone wolf Ghost in the field but when it was just him, no one watching, his hand always found its way to the ring hidden underneath his vest, hanging close to his heart on a silver chain right next to his dog tags.
The days dragged on like years, marking each second as a time lost; time that should have been spent elsewhere, not with a cold rifle but with a warm cup of tea in his hand and not the harsh touch of his mask on his face but a soft kiss gentle against his lips.
Ghost's body was at work but Simon's heart was at home and the dissonance between the two never felt more jarring. He only carried on to make sure he'd return as a whole. One day at a time, one sleepless hour after the next.
His heart beat steady when he saw the familiar building of their headquarters through the car window as he counted the minutes until he could finish reporting, hand over the weapons, gear, and the invisible Ghost mask he wore as a shield for his emotions.
He stepped out of the car and for a second he thought the mission was somehow not over, that they got him right as he thought he was safe when he got tackled to the ground, falling on his butt gracelessly, rifle still in his hand. But then there were hands, warm familiar hands embracing him and a soft face pressed to the side of his mask, a tear soaking through the material, cold but so dear against his ear.
"You're back, you're finally back!"
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