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Music and loud chatter could be heard all around the base. The 141 had yet another successful mission, which is always a reason to celebrate. In other words, an excuse for the other soldiers to have a drink and forget their duties for at least a small amount of time.
Soap and Gaz were very much enjoying the attention they were receiving, drinking cold beer, and retelling some of the not classified parts of the mission. Price was there too. One for the booze and two as a kind of 'safe tool' to make sure neither of the sergeants spills more than the others need to know.
And Ghost? He lived up to his codename and disappeared as soon as he got the chance. It wasn't even that hard when all the soldiers were paying attention to the stories from the mission. In less than 10 minutes from the start of the welcome party, he was out of the mess hall and off to his favorite spot in the woods. There was an old hangar that was used for equipment before. Now it's just a rusty storage area.
He climbed up a ladder and up the rooftop. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the lit-up base that shimmered half a klick away from his location. He sat down with his back to the base. His legs were hanging over the edge. After he settled down he finally took a deep breath.
Even through the mask fresh air filled his lungs. It smelled of pines, a faint scent of resin mixed with wet dirt and food from the mess hall. This odd mixture of smells brought him a sense of calmness. It reminded him where he was at home. That he can finally, at least in some sense let his guard down. Relax his tensed shoulders and mind. Leave Ghost behind and be Simon.
Reaching behind his neck he peeled off the mask slowly and took another deep breath followed by a sigh. The soft air felt good on his skin, almost tingly on his scars. His dirty blonde hair waved messily around. He combed through them with his fingers, but there was so much what that can fix. It was still frizzy, better than it was before. Then again, he didn't care much. As long as it was not in his eyes he didn't bother to fix them.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his cigarette pack and stuck one of them between his lips. Placing back the pack and was replacing it with a lighter. He flicked it a few times emitting only sparks. Shaking it a little and trying again he got it lit on the first try. The flame illuminated his face for a second, but as quickly as it came it was gone and now it was only the little light from the cigarette itself.
His eyes travel up to the sky. This far from all the light pollution from cities, he could clearly see the beauty of the night. Bright stars and visible constellations are scattered around the inky place. Not a single cloud in sight. Not even the moon was up. Total darkness. Just like he liked it. However, something was missing...
Or rather someone.
"Thought I might find you here Simon." your voice brought him back to the ground, in a good way. He was hoping you'd join him, just like you always did. It made him whole. The corners of his mouth lifted a bit to an almost unnoticeable smile as you called his name.
No codename. No rank. Just his name. Simon. The one he used to bury under Ghost. The one he swore died so long ago. The one he feared he lost long ago. But with you, he found his old self. You helped him to get back and to help him feel whole again
"You always know where to find me." he said still looking up at the stars. He spared you a glance as he called your name. An invitation for you to join him. With a smile of your own, you sat down beside him.
You fumbled with a thermo-flask and two cups, soon handing one of them to Simon and another one for yourself "Earl grey tea with a splash of milk and a little bit of honey, just like you like it" You pipped before taking a sip. He didn't hesitate to have a sip of his own. The warm liquid was very welcomed by his frozen body. Before he could say anything you draped a blanket over his shoulders. He stiffed up a bit. You wrapped another blanket around yourself.
This was new.
"I thought you might be cold so I also brought up the blankets. Is that alright with you?" You look up to him
"Yeah." he gave you a short answer before pulling the blanket closer. Long forgotten and burned-out cigarette sat between his fingers. As he noticed he left it in a crease in the roof.
He always felt at ease with you around him but this little gesture set him off into a little spiral of emotions he didn't feel for a long time.
The question of the relationship between you and him sat on his mind. What were you to him? What was he to you? Was it just friendship? Or was it something more? You two never talked about your relationship. He is certain that some of his teammates- Scratch that, the whole 141 know about his secret not-so-secret meetups with you and are convinced that there might be something between the two of you.
He didn't know at first that he wanted more than just friendship with you, but after the meets became regular and you were always one of the firsts to see them, see him, after any mission, he knew he started to fall for you. He hopes it means something more to you just as it means to him... almost at times he’s ashamed of thinking like that because he doesn't know how you feel about it. And it is eating him up from the inside.
It's the little gestures that give him hope. The time you volunteered to train rookies so he can focus on his mission. The time when both of you went on a mission together and offered to write the report. The time he watched you train sniffer dogs or this little gesture with the blanket. He couldn't say why but these actions stood up to him the most.
The biggest hope was given to him when he returned from a mission, badly injured. He had to have surgery and Soap told him, he was put under artificial sleep, so he could heal better. The first thing he saw when he woke up was your sleeping form beside him. He rested his hand over yours. He doesn't remember if it was the drowsiness, the medication, or everything combined together, but he found it incredibly interesting how smaller were your hands against his.
He remembers how you woke up, face red, cheeks a bit puffy, hair messy and all over the place but happy. Happy to see him, alive and well. That one memory gives him hope that you, just might, just a little, could return those feelings.
"You okay Simon?" You called to him and yet again brought him back to reality. He hummed before answering.
"Just thinking..." and took a sip. The tea was now colder. For how long was he thinking?
"About anything particular?" You asked curiously. Not seemingly to mind his quietness. You knew he wasn’t the most talkative person on the planet earth. You didn't mind those quiet times when you two just sat in comfortable silence. However, you noticed that something was on his mind. Hopefully, you could ease his troubles.
“Wanna talk about it?” You offered, waiting for his response. He began to think again.
He was starting to understand those feelings but he knew that even though you might return the feelings, he is not the one you should choose. He is not some knight in shining armor, or... anything else for that matter. You deserve someone better than him. He took a deep breath. It's probably better if it's off his chest. Rip it fast as a bandaid.
"I was thinking about me and you." Simon started which got your attention quickly.
"Your incredible attention to detail, amazing skills at the field, being strict with the rookies yet so..so god damn lovely with everyone else." he said it fast but you understood him and watched him in amazement. Your cheeks were slowly getting that pink tint.
"But I'm not the kind of person that it fits." he said sadly, making you question.
"What do you mean Simon?"
"It means that I am probably not the best candidate to… even think about starting something with you." he answered with a sad chuckle.
"You should find someone who doesn't have to go anywhere for the job, to be always by your side, someone who doesn't take the risk to endanger either you or themselves" he explained, starting to get a little frustrated. Not with you but with himself and this whole situation. Taking a deep breath in and a long exhale he continued.
"Just someone that is better than me, have a safer job, be there for you." he smiled sadly
"And clearly, I don't see to myself upon that list." He looked down at you.
His soft brown eyes meet yours. They were full of what you've always seen when he looked at you. You always wondered what it was. Nobody ever looked at you the way he was and you never quite understood what it was. With each day you learned what it was, and now, with Simon's confession, it was clear as a day. Love. Affection. Happiness. Calmness.
You knew what you've gotten yourself into when you felt that you were falling for the ever so stoic lieutenant, but once he started to open up to you and showed you who he really is, who is behind that skull mask, who Simon Riley is, you have fallen for him completely.
"Where'd you wanna go?" You asked all of sudden. Simon was taken a little aback "Sorry?"
"You said to find someone to never leave anywhere for the job, but what if I wanted to go with you?" You continued, breaking eye contact to look up at the sky.
"How much you wanna risk? Live a life to remember. Is it even life, if you don't take a little risk?" you smiled a bit.
"Especially in our field of work." chuckling you noticed, a falling star.
"I'm not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts. Some superhero. Some fairy tale bliss, Simon" you turned from the sky back to him, and your eyes held the same look. Love and appreciation. Dedicated just to him and only him.
"Just something I can turn to, somebody I can miss..." you placed a hand on his cheek. It was cold, and his cheeks were dusted with pink. Either from the frosty wind, or he was blushing. Maybe a bit of both. But if you ever asked him, he would only say it was because of the cold. He leaned to the touch making you smile more. You leaned forward.
"Somebody I can kiss.” it was Simon who decided to seal the gap between you. A sweet, loving, and tender kiss. His lips were chapped but surprisingly warm. Yours were soft with a hint of some flavor. Probably one of your chapsticks. Simon loved every second of it. And so did you.
“I want something just like this." you breathed out as you both parted.
Simon couldn't be happier. He was glad that you are willing to accept him for who he is and give him a chance. He swept you up and on settled you on his lap and didn't hesitate to kiss you again. And you happily accepted that invitation.
~ ~ ~
Meanwhile:
"Pay up Garrick." Soap grinned with one hand outstretched to his fellow teammate and in the other a pair of binoculars locked on the new couple.
"Fuck off MacTavish!" Gaz mumbled as he handed him 50£. As Soap was checking his victory money Gaz snatched the binoculars to see you two for himself.
Ghosts and your back were towards them, no gap between you as you kissed lovingly. He saw as Ghost lifted you up to his lap and continued to kiss you. You divided your hands to his hair, playing with them softly.
"Ohh now it's getting interesting.~" Gaz grinned.
"Let me see!" Soap snatched the binoculars to look.
He only got a glimpse of you nestled on Ghost's lap before he lost vision and the binoculars were back in Gaz's hands.
"Give it to me Gaz!" Soap snatched it back and held it up in the air.
"Ugh, you are such an arse Soap!" Gaz jumped to get them from him.
"Can't you two just share the damn thing?!" Price's voice cut their banter. The two of them looked at him and then back at each other.
They completely forgot that their captain was in the room with them for thankfully only a minority of the time. He didn't know what bet they had between them nor what they were fighting to see.
Without another word, they shared the binoculars, but their blood run cold quickly.
You were happily leaning onto his chest, eyes closed and a satisfied smile present on your face. Ghost, however, as if he had laser vision of some sort, glared directly at the two of them. And as if he knew they were watching, he pointed two fingers at his eyes and then back to them. Giving them a clear signal.
"We're fucked?" Gaz piped up a question "Most definitely." Soap agreed quietly.