Chapter Text
It was too big for you.
But you didn’t dare say anything. You put your brightest smile- an honest one, because you were just happy that he had remembered your birthday and gotten you a gift. It was even wrapped. Probably by whoever had sold it to him, but still.
It was also not your style at all.
It was dark grey, with a hood. You didn’t own a single piece of clothing in that color. Nor did you find hoods particularly comfortable: if you put them over your head, they messed up your hair; and if you didn’t, it bothered you when you sat on any chair or sofa with a back.
When you tried it on, you found out it was also not flattering at all. It hid all your curves, including your butt, because, apart from being baggy, it was long.
Still, you thanked him profusely.
“Thanks for the hoodie! It’s so soft!”
He gave you a nod, quiet as usual. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
You always saw the bright side. That’s why, even though you wouldn’t have picked it, you started to wear the hoodie. Turns out cotton was pretty comfortable, and the hood was great for bad hair days. Also, it had big pockets that you could fill to the brim with whatever you had stolen from the kitchen.
Ghost, on the other side, seemed to like the hoodie a little less every time he saw you wearing it. Not that he was expressive enough to actually show it, but you could sense it. He didn’t talk to you directly when you had it on. His eyes always found something more interesting to hold onto- the carpet, the shelf behind your head, the window. There was a tension on his shoulders, one you thought you had gotten past already. He also stood an extra inch away from you.
Not that you were measuring the distance.
By the time you noticed, though, it was too late and you had grown attached to the hoodie. At first you wore it because it was a gift and it would be rude not to. Then because it was comfortable. Now it had become essential part of your comfort outfits. You even slept with it on, sometimes. Not because it reminded you of him or of the fact that he had bothered to get you a gift, no. It was just so cozy.
So when you realized he didn’t really like you wearing it, you didn't stop. You liked it too much already. Plus, the dark color made it easier to creep around base without being seen, which was crucial to avoid people.
Or so you thought. The dark hoodie did help with people not seeing you. It was also a threat to privacy.
Other people's privacy, actually.
‘Other people’ being Soap and Ghost himself.
It was late. Not too late for it to be concerning, but definitely a time you didn’t wanna get caught walking around the hallways. Especially since you had to train early the next day. But you had decided to risk a quick trip to the kitchen to get something sweet. You had been craving it for the best part of two hours now, and you were positive you wouldn’t be able to sleep if you didn’t have some sugar in your system. Focused on your objective, you didn’t hear the voices until it was too late.
The hallway was dark- thankfully- and the kitchen light casted two shadows on the cold floor under your feet. You froze when you heard Soap’s laugh. You were about to start walking again when Ghost’s harsh tone let out a threat. It made you stop once again. You wanted something sweet, yeah, but enough to put yourself near your Lieutenant’s rage? Probably not.
It wasn’t your intention to pry. But you hesitated for a little too long, and you heard something interesting. Something you weren’t supposed to.
“… Lass got ya down bad.”
It took you two whole breaths and a frown to start to decipher what Soap had said.
“Fuckin’ shut up, Johnny.”
You closed your mouth out of habit, even though he wasn’t even talking to you. Soap, on the other hand, didn’t have the same survival instinct.
“She’s walkin’ round lookin' like ya. Ya got’er the same color n’all. Inae yer size, too?”
Ghost’s answer was a menacing growl.
“Dunno what ya talkin’ about.”
Soap broke in another fit of laughter. You tensed. If somebody woke up with the noise, the first thing they’d find would be you, eavesdropping your superior’s conversation. It was not a situation you wanted to find yourself in. Even less taking in consideration Ghost’s particular attachment to his privacy.
It wasn’t worth it.
So, instead of doing the wrong thing and keep listening; you decided to do the stupid thing and stepped into the kitchen.
Instantly, both men shut up. Soap looked at you with the same face he made before blowing something up on the field. Ghost just glanced at you and looked back at the table, taking a sip of his beer.
You did your best to keep your smile more uncomfortable than guilty and waved.
“Hi.”
Soap was still staring at you, mischievous smile taunting you.
“Night, lass.”
Feeling both stares on your back, you opened drawers until you found the goddamn cookies and stuffed them in the pocket of your hoodie. Without looking back at them, you rushed to the door, mumbling a little “bye”.
Once in the hallway, you almost started sprinting. You heard Soap’s laugh once again, and what sounded like a muffled smack that cut it short. You didn’t pay much attention to it, though. You were too busy replaying the image of Ghost in your head. Black balaclava, dark eyes fixed on the table.
Dark grey hoodie.
The exact same you were wearing right now.