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Ghost had known Johnny for what felt like years now. The voice he always wanted to hear on mission comms was his. His voice. His stupid, wonderful, goofy ass voice. And Simon loved it. Loved him. Every mission could be his last, but Ghost would be fine with that if it was with Johnny. His whole world.
They had done a lot in their relationship. From simply teammates, to friends, to now lovers.
But there was something that ghost still hadn't done. A thing that stayed in the back of his mind constantly, like a little version of Graves or something saying he was weak and pathetic and that Johnny would abandon him if he did.
He hadn't taken his mask of fully. Ever. Even around the person he loved most in the world.
And it was currently destroying him.
Sure they had kissed and cuddled, held hands and do certain other things-
But that was all with the mask on. Never his full face shown to Johnny. Why you may ask? because Simon was absolutely
terrified of how he would react
Would he hate him? Call him ugly and a monster? Would he step back in disgust or put a hand to his sidearm? If he did pull his pistol out and aim, honestly? Simon would let him take the shot. He knew that part of him was a cold and strong bastard but the other part really wasn't. He was weak ans insecure, afraid of the kindest person of his life calling his face ugly.
how pathetic, the voice would say.
Currently, the task force was just coming back from training at the gym, since they hadn't had a mission in a while and captain Price wanted to make sure everyone stayed in good shape. Soap and Ghost were walking side by side to Johnny's room, shoulders practically touching. The shorter man then leaned up and cheekily whispered in his ear,
"Oi Simon, wanna dae some fun stuff I ma room~?" He murmured with a smirk. Ghost glanced down to his side and let his eyes smile when looking at the other, then whispered back,
"Alright then" He replied with a small smirk, voice gruff and slightly teasing. Once they arrived at Soap's room, Ghost locked the door behind him and turned to see Johnny slide his hands around his waist, leaning in with his eyes locked with Simon's. the taller buried his masked face into the shorter ones hair, breathing him in.
"y'alricht simon?" Soap asked, nuzzling into Ghost's chest. The other simply grunted in response. The Scott gently kissed him on the lips, and even if his face was covered by the balaclava, ghost felt every bit. And god, he was addicted to the feeling. They continued, gentle and tender kisses, still blocked by the mask. Soap whined softly, wanting more. He carefully slid his hands up to ghosts shoulders and bit by bit, removed the mask, till he could see ghosts jaw and mouth, but nothing more.
Ghost's breath hitched, his body tensing but he let it happen. They continued, Soap littering kisses along Simon's scared jaw, stubble brushing against his lips. Ghost leaned back against the wall, eyes closed in bliss. His hands roamed around Johnny's body, rubbing his back and holding his hips (shakira shakira) as they kept kissing.
As they kissed Soap slid his hands higher and higher up the mask, revealing more of Simon's face that he always hid from the world. Ghosts eyes snapped open once he realized this and he went still, pulling back away from Soap.
"Simon?" Soap asked, worried. he took a step back, not wanting to crowd the other as Simon breathed heavily and stood against the wall, pulling his mask down quickly. Ghost didn't want to run. He didn't want to be weak.
but oh god he was scared.
"Simon...?" Soap called out again "Simon? did A dae somethin wrong? are ye okay...?" Johnny asked quickly, worried at why Simon stepped away from him like that. Ghost on the other hand slowly calmed down, looking at the ground as he stood as a stiff wall, breathing roughly.
Soap took a careful step forward, slow and tentative to not cause any more distress for the poor lieutenant who was still frozen, but sufficiently calmer now. "Simon...?" Soap tried again, a little louder and more insistent. Ghost slowly looked up at him, still a little shaken. "Hey...can ye tell me whit happened? we can tak it slow for ye." Soap asked, voice smooth and caring as he gazed at Ghost, watching his movement to see if he was still scared.
The other looked up, slowly and unsure, then gazed into Johnny's blue eyes, finding only care and love in them. It was a new feeling, love. Well it wasn't, but Simon certainly hadn't experienced this kind of love before. He was used to fast and brave love, the kind that makes you want to protect and do action, not necessarily looking deeper into the more vulnerable parts in each others hearts. This kind of love was different.
It was slow, calm, attentive. Gentle and sweet, but also showing the attention to the more bitter bit in his heart, the parts that made him shrink and cry, and want to be gone from the world. It was like earl grey tea, warm and soothing but had the nice hint of bitter in it that made in feel whole, and natural. That's the love Simon found in Johnny's eyes. The love he had never experienced. The love that felt like it could really last forever.
Ghost continued to look into soap's eyes, mesmerized. The sergeant softened his concerning gaze into something simply intimate, and scooted closer to Simon. "sea...dae ye wanna talk aboot it? wi the whole mask thin. its fine gin no." He said soothingly, and held Ghost's hand, rubbing his knuckles with his thumb in a calm, slow rhythm.
"English Johnny." Ghost said gruffly, making soap laugh at the sudden change of behavior. he squeezed his hand and leaned against his side, smiling. He managed to get him out of his silence, and that was an achievement, especially when dealing with a person like Ghost.
"Haha! A made ye talk! richt, c'mon simon, lets talk." He said victoriously. Ghost nodded and was going to talk, but he didn't know what to start with. how was he supposed to bring this topic up with Johnny in the first place? Sure they bickered about Ghost taking off his mask, but he never thought he actually had to y'know. Talk about feelings.
Ghost grumbled and thought for a moment, and Soap took that as a sign he needed some assistance with talking about his feelings. "So...why don't you wanna take off yer mask? and be honest" He asked, still rubbing ghosts knuckles calmly. Ghost hesitated then decided to just pour all his thoughts and feelings out, the thoughts of being ugly and a monster after years of being in service, the thoughts of Johnny hating him simply for looking different. soap listened to every word, still holding tightly to Ghost's hand.
once Simon finally finished, Soap leaned in and gently started to remove Ghost's mask. The other was scared, reflected in his eyes, but he let the other continue, desperately hoping Soap wouldn't reject the most vulnerable part of himself. As more of his balaclava was removed, more scars and marks on his skin were revealed, as well as the full sight of Ghost's face. The fear in his eyes, the slight furrow of brow, from sheer worry, his lips that were pressed into a thin line.
Soap cupped Simon's face and swiftly kissed him, gentle but powerful. Ghost's eyes fluttered close in shocked joy as he did so, and he leaned in, silently grateful for something he always craved.
acceptance.
THE ENDDDD
-ali <3