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It’s 9.30pm, Aldi closes in half an hour and there’s barely anyone around. Which is exactly the reason Ghost and Soap are here now, browsing the aisles.
The first day they went to get groceries together, Ghost had forgotten how busy it got. He saw three people side eye his balaclava before he even got to the door. Soap suggested they buy a kebab and return that evening. So now they get groceries in the dead of night.
Ghost sometimes worries his aversion to crowds annoys Soap.
If it does, Soap never lets it show. Tonight, like many other nights, he has barely stopped talking the whole trip.
“Gnocchi! I keep saying I should have a crack at that, what d’you think?” Soap holds the box for Ghost to see.
“When are we gonna have that?” Ghost asks.
“Could have it tomorrow, if you want.” Soap starts pulling it off the shelf.
“Not really,” Ghost mumbles, “thought we were gonna have carbonara.”
“Alright, yeah, I should probably stick to that,” Soap chuckles. He puts the box down and taps it twice. “I’m coming back for you, one day.”
“Maybe on Tuesday…” Ghost points to the spaghetti a little ways over, cutting Soap’s search short.
“Aha!” Soap grabs it and tosses it into the basket Ghost is carrying. “Wonder what we could have with gnocchi, a creamy tomato sauce goes pretty well I think.”
Ghost nods, following Soap down another aisle they don’t really need to go down. But Soap likes looking at everything.
“Weren’t we running out of relish?” Soap asks.
“We picked it up last week,” Ghost reminds him, “you did finish the jam the other day.”
“Oh, we should get more flour! You gotta make those scones again.”
Ghost scoffs, a smile threatening to split his face. “Alright, we can get some flour.” He pulls out the list on his phone to add it on.
“Fuck yeah,” Soap smiles at him, then turns to head away.
Ghost chuckles, adding the jam to the basket himself.
“Anything else?” Soap asks once they have the flour.
“We need some more beef stock.”
“Aye, we can make some more of that gravy. Bloody marvelous, that was, if I do say so myself,” Soap mutters, leading the way again.
Ghost’s good mood wavers slightly when the shop doesn’t have the stock they usually get. Also, someone chooses that moment to enter the aisle and have a look at the stock as well.
“Do you see it?” Soap asks, undeterred.
Ghost shakes his head, already taking a step back and away from the stranger. Who apparently is also shopping after 9pm like a bloody weirdo.
“Hey, you alright?” Soap asks quietly.
“Yeah,” Ghost nods, straightening himself up. He feels his face heat up, embarrassed at the fear in his heart when the stranger glances at them casually. Ghost wonders how bloody long it’ll take before he can function like a normal person.
Soap looks at him carefully for a moment, then shrugs. “I’ll come back tomorrow to look for it, don’t worry.”
Ghost hums an agreement, following Soap to the checkout.
Soap convinces Ghost to pick up a box of ice lollies on the walk over but other than that, they have everything they need and not much more.
“Gotta be up early tomorrow,” Soap gripes, “Captain said he’s gonna give us a call. I’m hoping it’s not to pull us out of leave.”
Ghost nods, oddly agreeing with Soap. It’s been a while since Ghost’s time on leave wasn’t spent waiting for the next mission. He was a bit apprehensive about taking up Soap’s offer to stay with him to see Scotland but he definitely hasn’t been missing his Manchester flat.
“What time’s he calling?” Ghost asks.
“I’ve got no bloody idea, which is why I’m not taking my chances. I’ll be up with the sun. I’ve been late for a meeting with Price once and I could’ve just died, I’ll tell ya.”
“Yeah?” Ghost says, smirking.
“My fucking alarm didn’t work, it was absolute horseshit.”
“It just stopped working?”
“Well, it stopped waking me up.” Soap waves his hand dismissively.
Ghost chuckles, shaking his head.
It’s cold enough that Soap leads them to the bus stop rather than making the walk back to the flat themselves.
“Anyway,” Soap says as he leans against a pole. “Price goes off at me for feckin ages then I was dicked to relay the briefing I missed to the newbies.”
“You better fix your clock then.” Ghost shrugs.
“Yeah alright…” Soap crosses his arms. “Steamin’ Jesus it’s cold.”
“Need another layer.” Ghost eyes Soap’s leather jacket and the thin shirt underneath it.
“Right, I’ll just pull an extra jumper out of my arse, thanks Lt.” Soap snarks, but softens it with a toothy grin.
The sight fills Simon with a sense of warmth he doesn’t remember feeling with anyone for a while. Johnny really is the best friend he’s had for a long time.
With no intention to voice how he’s feeling, nor any knowledge how, Ghost lumbers over to Soap’s side wordlessly.
Ghost feels Soap tense for a second as he throws an arm over Soap’s shoulders, but Soap quickly relaxes with a chuckle.
“Thanks, Lt.” Soap’s hand comes behind Ghost to pat his back slightly.
Weak snow is illuminated by the streetlight above them as they wait for the bus to take them home.