Archive of Our Own ^beta

Between the two of you, you tended to be more brash and loud, especially within arguments. That didn’t mean that Ghost settled for any of your barking, he just knew that deep down, he’d be the winner of your ‘petty little’ arguments at the end of it all.

The morning you had woken up to the faint smell of ash and the sound of running water, you couldn’t help but latch onto that singular moment of brief bliss. Pretend you and Simon were still in the first months of your relationship where you didn’t have to scream at him, where he’d wake you up with sweet kisses and a plate of slightly burnt eggs, where you’d find safety in the familiar smell of pine and leather mixed in with lingering tobacco. Instead, the comforting smell that used to envelope you in warmth now curled around your lungs, digging its claws into the soft scarred tissue within you. It was far too late to be reminiscing about things. It was best to enjoy him whilst he was here before he became the scary Ghost everyone would cower from. Not you, never you. 

“What’s got that pretty brain so tied up this early?” 

Whilst you were busy in your thoughts, you hadn’t noticed the running water from the shower had stopped. In all his glory, Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley had stepped out into your room, without his usual get up and just a towel hitched on his hips that did little to actually dry him off. You scoffed at him, coming up to lean on your elbows. If you were deluded enough in your morning sleepiness, you could be convinced that some twat had left a statue dead centre of your room, but it was just Simon. Your Simon, apparently. 

The sun reflected off the droplets of water on his body perfectly. He’d explained every single scar that painted his skin, each one having a little story, each time you needed him to talk, he’d retell the same stories of his months on the field. The sleeve of tattoos which you’d branded into your mind were one of your favourite parts about him, the way they moved and how they would look when he’d tense his arms. Each time he came back, you’d scan him for injuries like a hawk. And each time, he’d attempt to brush you off with a humorous glint in his eyes, even if he knew it wouldn’t work. Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley was a honey trap, waiting for your fragile legs to step into his life once again. 

“Just how you look like shit.” You answered back, a grin on your lips as you slowly pushed yourself off the bedding, letting the layer of warmth fall off of you to stand up. Ghost had rolled his eyes, mumbling something whilst attempting to dig through your closet in hopes of finding his old clothes that he knew you wouldn’t throw up, no matter how bad the break up was. 

The morning was pleasant. It was early enough that the sun had just started to peek through the clouds, letting rays to paint amber throughout your apartment. With the man’s crazy early morning starts, you were always quick to follow. You had started on frying some eggs, as it was your job now after the last time Simon nearly burnt your kitchen down. A pair of firm arms came to wrap your waist from behind, with a firm wall against your head now that he’d curled himself around you, his wet hair sending a shrill out of you when it touched the back of your neck. You had attempted to swat him off with a grumble, but his arms continued to encase you regardless. “Si, go dry your hair, you wet dog.” 

“No. Effort.” He mumbled back, brushing his lips against the junction of your neck. 

The two of you probably looked stupid standing here, you with your colourful spatula in hand and Simon awkwardly hunched over your frame as the two of you watched the eggs fry. 

You clicked your tongue in annoyance. “One of the yolks popped.” 

Simon only hummed back, leaving the back of your neck with a trail of kisses before setting off to find plates and mugs to make your usual teas.

You could pretend for a moment that this sort of bliss would last forever. 

“Si, you’re having the popped yolk.” 

__________________________

Simon had left after breakfast, leaving you with a sweet kiss after he had pulled his usual mask up to the slight crooked bridge of his nose. It had tasted like toast and bitter English breakfast tea, considering he’d have it without sugar or milk. He promised to send you a text and left, leaving you standing in your doorway, missing his warmth already. 

You didn’t have time to be missing him though. You needed to be at your job soon. 

Back to your schedule. 

_________________________

Your work wasn’t strenuous by any means, just another office job in the middle of a far too populated city. However, it didn’t stop you being exhausted after it. It had just brushed past six in the evening, the usual rush of people in the train station formed around you whilst you waited for the slow journey home. Even with the bustling of the evening, the train still arrived and you stepped on, per schedule. 

The journey from the train station to your home was only ten to fifteen minutes walk depending on how fast you walked, if it were raining you’d either scramble home, depending on your footwear, or take a taxi. But the sky seemed clear, the purple and orange hues now being overtaken by dark navy blues as you departed from the station. Perhaps you’d stop by the shops to pick up something that could come close to being called dinner.

 As the heels of your shoes clicked against the concrete of the path, you noticed steps that followed behind yours. It wasn’t too strange considering you had only walked a few minutes away from the station, but with the slight nerves of the growing darkness of the sky, you kept an eye on it. You had glanced behind your back slightly to see that it was someone you had spotted briefly on the train. Okay, odd, but whatever, not too strange for someone to be on the same route you were. 

Going into the supermarket, you had picked up a few essentials, some more eggs since Simon ate four in one go like the freak he is, alongside bits you could throw together to make dinner. What was strange was that the same guy you’d seen on the streets nearly fifteen minutes ago was in every single aisle you were in. It was starting to freak you out, even if you didn’t want to jump to conclusions, it was weird that the guy hadn’t picked up a single thing and he was still following you whilst you looped over yourself twice over in the market. Due to the public setting of it all, you weren’t too afraid of confronting him. 

“Is there a reason you’re following me?” you had asked once you’d finally cornered him, attempting to paste your best face of intimidation, just like Simon had taught you. With your arms crossed and the basket of items you had once gripped now sat beside your heels. 

“God, I’m so sorry! You dropped your keys earlier on the steps… I just didn’t know how to approach you without being a creep but I guess that backfired,” he had laughed off nervously, his hand digging around in his coat pocket before you heard the distinct noise of all the charms and keychains you had hooked on. You had gasped and smiled brightly as you took the familiar keys into your hands. 

With many apologies and many thanks, you had left the doors of the supermarket and went back onto your route home. 

A notification pinged from your pocket, a message from Simon. 

‘Didn’t realise you were so desperate.’’

You were confused. Simon hadn’t messaged the entire day, his first message to you being this?

‘What are you on about?’ You had replied back, your brows furrowed as you tried to figure out what his cryptic message meant. 

‘Get home.’

‘Now.’ 

You had scoffed at his message, grumbling to yourself as you made your way home. 

You had just unlocked your door and dropped the bag of items by your feet. You hadn’t even taken your shoes off properly before a hand came to curl around the back of your neck. For a moment fear had your blood running cold before your shoulders eased out in tension as you recognised the familiar scent of cologne and the smooth gloves against your neck. 

“Any reason why you decided to go whore yourself out today?” His gruff voice pressed as the hand tightened around the back of your neck before easing again. You were confused, even more than before. First the messages and now this? Your hallway lights weren’t even on yet, the only light coming from the lamp in your living room that did little to light up your flat. 

“‘Fuck are you on about Simon?” you had hissed back when his hand had tensed again, pulling a whine of complaint before letting go entirely. Your hand tried to rub out the light pain in your neck before you were tugged forward, leaving you stumbling in your own home. Simon walked around the flat like it was his own as he shoved you onto the sofa, bouncing slightly as you landed. The small lamp allowed you to make out Simon’s figure now. He was in his usual outfit, his mask covering his face as usual. Despite the covering you could see the anger that swirled in his eyes, his brows arched as he glared down at you. 

“I saw you in there laughing and battin’ your eyelashes like some sort of desperate slag. Practically asked him to fuck you.” The man had hissed at you, like you were in the wrong for all this. He was determined that he was right and that you were wrong. 

Your mind reeled trying to find something to make sense of the situation before finally clicking with the brief conversation you had with the guy in the supermarket. But that seriously couldn’t be the reason why Simon’s angry at you, the interaction hadn’t even lasted for five minutes, nevermind whatever you were trying to accuse you of. Also, how did he even know the two of you had interacted?

“Simon, he was giving me back my keys which I had dropped , and I thanked him. That makes you think I was trying to get under his belt?” you scoffed back at him, bewildered than anyone could ever come to that conclusion. Anger festered inside of you as Simon only continued to look down at you, the same warm eyes that you watched leave your home had become cold, seeing past you instead of at you.

“Y’know what, what if I was trying to fuck him? Then what? You barely treat me like your girlfriend anyways!”

That seemed to touch a nerve; you could see the tension in his arms as he continued to glare at you without a word. 

“Don’t push it now.”
You rolled your eyes. You couldn’t believe the audacity he continued to hold. You had planned a quiet night. Make some shitty dinner, have some cheap shitty wine and watch some shitty series you’ve memorised. But all of this had interrupted it, interrupted your schedule. 

You stood up, his face only moments from yours now if he leaned down. 

“I’m going out there, and I’m finding someone else to keep the bed warm since I’ve got some prick in my flat.” your pointer finger dug into his chest, each word emphasised by a dig in with your nail. 

Smack!

Your face had turned to the side as he slapped you. Your eyes widened as you slowly turned to look up at him. In all retrospect, Simon had never laid his hands on you. Sure, he’d done violent things, but never hit you so directly like this. You could feel the swell of tears coming to your eyes as you could feel it stinging. 

“You... hit me.” your words came out in whispers, in disbelief that he’d actually hit you. 

His hand that could easily swallow your own lifted to the same face he’d just hit, gently smoothing over the red stinging with his thumb. 

“You tested me.” His voice was much firmer in words, speaking as if you deserved it, like it was justified. 

Your brows only furrowed further as tears fell over the seams of your eyes, rolling down your cheek, you let out a soft whimper as fat streams of tears raced down your face. You looked a mess with your mascara running down your face alongside the traces of tears, sobbing as you closed your eyes. 

“Oh princess, c’mere.” 

It was like a whole new person was in front of you. The Simon who woke you up with kisses, the Simon who would buy you small sweet treats when coming to visit, the Simon you couldn’t afford to lose. He had pulled off his mask as soon as he saw tears, a glimpse of sympathy on his face.The sudden change in his attitude was jarring you to no end, making you cry harder. 

“Hush love, it’s all okay. I’ve got you.” 

He had brushed your hair from your face, so gently that it almost tickled your cheeks. You could feel his other arm wrap around your waist and pull you into the space you had previously invaded to yell at him, letting you cry into the soft fabric of his sweater. He slowly led you down so that you were sitting back down on the sofa. 

“You know why I had to do that, don’t you?” He whispered into your hair, pressing soft kisses into your hairline. You didn’t answer, you couldn’t. It was hard enough trying to focus on his words and catching your breath, nevermind answering him. 

“Love you, so much darling. You know I wouldn’t do that if you didn’t deserve it.” 

You could only nod along, sniffling as you wiped your own tears. You had leaned into the safe space between Simon’s arms without even noticing. 

“You won’t do that again will you?”

You shook your head.

“That’s a good girl.” 

Despite all that had happened, your mind had buzzed as his praises, high off the serotonin it created. 

“C’mon, I’ll order food. Your favourite, yeah?” He nudged, placing a soft kiss on your forehead, moving himself to get up. You clutched onto the side of his sweater, “Can you get me fries?” Your voice meek, whispered as you looked up at him, wet eyelashes reflecting the warmth of the lamp in the corner of the room. He chuckled lightly, leaning down to brush away stray tear marks that you weren’t able to see before pressing a kiss onto your lips gently, like you would shatter into a million pieces. “Was already going to. You always take mine.” he smiled, pressing another kiss against you before standing up to get his phone. 

“You should go get changed love, maybe a shower so you’re not so tense?”
You simply nodded, standing on shaky legs in hopes they’d guide you to your room. 

“Baby?” 

You had looked up from your spot, your eyes dazed and glazed over from the emotional rollercoaster you had just been on.

“...Yeah?”

“Love you.”

You hesitated for a moment. 

“Love you too, Si.”