Chapter Text
It's not something he had planned, not something that was ever even in his mind as a realistic option. But sometimes life works in mysterious ways.
It was obvious the clingy nurse was making Soap uncomfortable, with her too-bright smile and the flirtatious fluttering of her lashes. She was practically hanging off his arm, undressing him with her eyes. And Soap, poor, sweet Soap, was too polite to pry her off.
He had been bearing witness to the situation for nearly ten minutes by now, gaze dark as his eyes never once strayed from the scene — the excuse of a cigarette between his teeth as he leaned against a nearby wall.
It wasn't until the nurse had the audacity to stroke her hand down the side of Soap's face that Ghost decided to step in.
"Johnny," he called, flicking the butt of his smoke somewhere to the side as he walked up to the pair.
"Lt," Soap exhaled in poorly concealed relief.
"Who's this?" Ghost asked, not even bothering with niceties.
"Uhm…" Soap began, but before he could make an excuse as to why he couldn't remember, the nurse jumped in.
"Sally." Her outstretched hand went unshaken as Ghost pointedly glared at her. It took only a few seconds before she lowered it again awkwardly. "Okay then."
"Got us that reservation for Friday," he said, completely ignoring the nurse as he turned his whole body towards Soap.
The confusion on Soap's face was clear to Ghost in his furrowed brows, but as his eyes flickered to the nurse he schooled it into what, to Ghost, looked like a joyful smile a little too real.
"Sounds great, Lt. Cannae wait."
By the time Thursday rolled around, Sally was still sniffing around Soap. It made Ghost bristle whenever he was subjected to the sight. She didn't know when to quit, apparently having taken the date as an invitation to try harder.
So when she plopped down by Soap's side for dinner, Ghost had had enough.
"Wear somethin' pretty tomorrow," he said suddenly, not caring in the slightest that he was interrupting Sally's rambling. Soap blinked up at him with big eyes, the beginning of a blush tinting the apples of his cheeks in a way Ghost found all too adorable. "Wanna wine an' dine ya proper."
Before either Soap or Sally could get a word in, he was walking out of the mess.
Ghost hadn't seen Sally all day on Friday, and he hoped she had finally decided to leave Soap alone. But just to make sure, he took a longer-than-usual shower, switched out his regular balaclava for a more socially accepted surgical mask, and picked out an outfit that could pass at whatever fancy restaurant she thought he was bringing Soap to.
She was nowhere to be seen as he entered the rec room in search of Soap. He scanned the room quickly — a few privates were playing pool in the back corner, two sergeants by the dartboard with a pretty nurse seemingly keeping score. Perfect. Enough witnesses for their charade, and with the nurse, the gossip would reach Sally sooner rather than later.
"Johnny," he greeted as he walked up behind the man. He was on one of the sofas with Gaz, a footie game on the telly Ghost couldn't care less about. "Meet me outside in thirty."
"O-okay," Soap nodded, clearly stunned, though Ghost didn't know why. He had made it obvious they were going out for the night.
"Thirty, Sergeant," he reiterated with crossed arms, and Soap scrambled to get out of his seat.
"Damn," Gaz murmured, though he didn't quite look as surprised as Soap had. "Guess I owe Cap 50 quid."
"You bet on us?" Ghost asked, narrowing his eyes in displeasure. He would have to have a talk with Price.
"Obviously," Gaz scoffed, and it only made Ghost's temper flare more.
"Careful, before you get latrine duty for a month."
Soap really cleaned up well. His hair was still damp, but the light blue button-down squeezed his arms just right, and the dark-washed jeans framed his arse in a way that made Ghost lick his lips.
It wasn't until they were already in the car, the base growing smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror, that Ghost finally realised he didn't actually have a plan other than 'get Johnny away from her'.
"So…" Soap began, dragging the word out, fiddling with his fingers, "where are we goin'?" It made Ghost pause, and if he hadn't had the excuse of focusing on the road, his expression would've surely given him away. "Somethin' fancy, I bet. Ye wouldnae wear tha' to the pub."
Ghost takes a moment to answer, using the left turn he makes to hide his face. "Ya looked like ya needed help. That nurse was all over ya."
"Oh," Soap said with a small nod, sinking in his seat. Even just from the corner of his eyes, the sight made Ghost feel like a dick. "Thought this was…" he trailed off and quickly shook his head, aiming a smile at his lieutenant that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Pub? Could use a drink."
"No," Ghost answered, a plan already forming in his head; if Johnny wanted a proper date, he'd get a proper date.
A fifteen-minute drive later, with Soap whining about wanting details, Ghost finally pulled up to a park. It was nothing fancy, nothing at all that fit with how they looked, but Soap's smile was wide as he took in the large trees and fresh grass.
The shock in Johnny's eyes when Ghost took his hand was worth it, despite his own hiccups with physical affection.
"Come on," he said, dragging the other man along.
"I know this wasn't wha' ya wanted," Ghost said sheepishly as he paid the hot dog vendor.
"Nae what I expected," Johnny corrected him as they walked to a nearby bench.
The sun was setting, dipping down below the horizon like it was tucking itself underneath a blanket — the beautiful colours painting the sky only amplifying Ghost's nervousness. Johnny was perfect; he couldn't afford to screw this up.
"I-" he began, wetting his lips before silently confessing, "I wasn't plannin' on this."
"Ye asked me out. Remember?"
"I know, I know… just…"
Johnny waited patiently, no rushing, only open eyes and a listening heart.
"I like ya," Ghost finally said, shoulders tense as he waited for the other shoe to drop. Maybe all that flirting over the comms had just been a joke? Something to pass the time and not think about the deadly situations they were put in? Maybe all the looks he was thrown were just-
"I ken, ye dummy," Johnny laughed, a twinkle of joy in his eyes. "I lik' ye too. Thought 'twas obvious by now."
And Ghost could only blink at him; blink, and blink, and blink, before his eyes crinkled with a wide, relieved smile.
"Ya do?"
"O' course. Ye think I just flirt wi' anybody lik' tha'?"
"I guess not."
"Definitely not," Johnny said and sealed the promise with a kiss to the back of Ghost's hand.