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Ghost collapsed onto the tattered couch on the corner of Alejandro’s safehouse with a sigh that spoke of the night he had suffered. He didn’t have it in him to feel any remorse for the fabric beneath him as it was stained with blood from his gear. He hadn’t had time to change out of the rain- and bloodsoaked clothes before his legs gave out.
He stared blankly at his gloves. Black leather now glistened with crimson in the cold morning light streaming in from the window. Whereas most blood on his form stemmed from Graves’ Shadows, the red on his hands had a very different source: Johnny.
With almost a buzz, Ghost’s head filled with static at the sight. His mind was stuck replaying images of their narrow escape, trapped in a mental loop of Las Almas.
There was still so much to do. His bones felt like they turned to lead at the simple thought.
A creaking floorboard nearby had him tensing his form again, hand on the hilt of a knife as he snapped his head towards the perpetrator.
“Ghost?” Rodolpho was holding his hands up in a placating manner. “It’s just me, hermano.”
“Rodolpho,” Ghost sighed. He allowed himself to sink back into the cushions slightly, although his eyes stayed sharp, focused on the newcomer.
“Ay, I’ve told you to call me Rudy,” smiled the other crookedly, before carefully stepping closer to the large man. “Can I sit?”
Despite the way his muscles stiffened at the question, Ghost still gave a curt nod in response. Rudy settled onto the couch beside him, with good distance between them. He didn’t relax into the soft seat, instead leaning forward, forearms resting on his knees. Ghost found that the warm eyes watching him were too observant. In a way, it reminded him of the look Soap sent him sometimes; searching, knowing. Kind.
“How is he?” Rodolpho asked into the draughty room, the inquiry practically picking into the lieutenant’s brain to drag out the subject of his worries into words.
“He’ll live. Will probably be up an’ runnin’ like usual in a few hours,” Ghost huffed, looking away from the other when the undivided attention became too heavy. He studied the dusty interior of their temporary haven instead. “He shouldn’t be, but we can’t keep ‘im down. Had to force him to sleep after I stitched his shoulder up.”
Rudy hummed, a smile evident in the sound.
“He is as stubborn as Alejandro. No wonder they have gotten so close so fast,” the man mused. “Soap is wanting to save him, much like me. Good you got him to rest. He respects you.”
That had Ghost chuckling against his will, exhaustion pulling at him, lowering his usual defences.
“He’s shown me less respect than any other subordinate of mine.” Ghost leaned his head against the back of the couch with a deep sigh, thinking about the Scot’s incessant teasing and vulnerable prodding at the masked man’s walls. “Cheeky sod.”
“He would follow you into hell,” Rudy stated simply, as if it was a well-known fact. Ghost lifted his head, looking back at the other with narrowed eyes, which quickly had the man squirming slightly. “Lo siento for my- uhm, my honesty. Alejandro always says I’m too good at reading people, but too bad at keeping it to myself.”
Ghost silently observed the embarrassed flush in Rodolpho’s cheeks. The conversation was steering in a direction a little too heartfelt and real for the hardened lieutenant, but curiosity was glueing him in place.
“What is your reading of us, then?” The bold question surprised himself, much like it did Rudy, if the widening eyes were an indicator. The other cleared his throat.
“Something has changed, is all I know for sure,” he admitted awkwardly. “After arriving at the safehouse, you’ve both been closer. A trust has been built. Before you were barely amigos, but now? Much more like me and Alejandro.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Eh, hard to put words to. Like I said, he would follow you to hell.” Rudy sent Ghost another searching, searing look. “You would do the same, no?”
Ghost hesitated at that. Once again he looked at the bloodied gloves he wore.
“Already have,” he concluded in a low timbre. Rudy nodded firmly at that, understanding lining his features.
“Las almas gemelas,” he mumbled fondly.
“What’s that?” Ghost frowned as the other once again blushed profusely.
“Ay, nothing. Ignore me, amigo.” Rodolpho smiled, tired eyes finally flickering away first. “Just talking. Usually Alejo is the better talker, much better at these, eh- social things.”
Ghost blinked at the other, watching him scratch his neck distractedly. Strange understanding filled his chest.
“I’m the same,” he said, earning that earnest attention again. “Not great at social situations. Soap is pretty much the opposite, he never stops talking. It comes easy to him.”
“Exactly,” Rudy excitedly exclaimed. “Alejo seems natural at making new friends, and when we’re together it comes easier to me as well. But alone, like this…” The man trailed off, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked like a line without its kite, Ghost found.
“We’ll get ‘im back,” Ghost reassured, intending to keep that promise. “As soon as Johnny won’t collapse, we’re going.”
Rudy chuckled softly, finally leaning back as well, shoulders untensing.
“I know. With you two by my side, we will succeed,” he nodded, more to himself. After a quick look at Ghost’s state, he cocked his head slightly. “You want a change of clothes, hermano?”
“If there’s anything in my size, sure.” Ghost shrugged, although the concept of clean clothes was like a breath of fresh air to his mind. His current outfit clung to his form like wet meat, the metallic smell helping that illusion along a little too well.
“I’ll find something.” Rudy stretched, before standing slowly. He sent Ghost a surprisingly stern look then. “Maybe get some sleep as well, like Soap. You look dead on your feet, Fantasma.”
The irony of that sentence wasn’t lost on either of them, their eyes meeting in silent amusement. Ghost almost wanted to reach out and clap the other man’s arm, like Soap always did with him. The gesture always seemed to convey appreciation.
If Ghost was capable of physical touch like that, he’d have done it. He settled on another small nod, instead.
“Affirmative, Rudy.”
Rudy’s lips tugged into a gentle smile, before he left the Ghost to rest.