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He’d always had a baby face. It was one part of him that he fucking hated. One thing that his hormones didn’t really affect.
So when he came back from his… leave, he was glad that he was allowed to wear his mask. His voice is deep thanks to the testosterone injections he got every couple months, so with his mask he never got misgendered.
It wasn’t uncommon for him to get the odd question about it, which was to be expected as a mask wasn’t permitted for others.
It was something Soap had commented on during their conversation as he weaved his way through the dark streets of Las Almas.
He played it off with his usual sure confidence and they moved on. But he kept thinking about it as they became closer. Even when Soap wanted to know what was under the mask, he never pushed.
He never expected anything of Ghost, completely content with how things were.
So, Soap was surprised when one night he was pulled into the Lieutenant’s living quarters, and offered the chance to really see his partner for the first time.
“You don’t have to feel pressured, m' eudail. I’m not bothered by you wanting to keep your mask on”
Soap offered a way out. But Ghost had already made up his mind.
“I want you to see. But I’m not–“ he heaved a heavy sigh, “I won’t look the way you’re expecting”
“I already kinda saw you in Al’s safe house. I don’t care about scars n’ stuff. It’s nothing to be ashamed about, ‘specially not in our line of work” he tried to reassure him but it almost seemed to do the opposite of what he’d been going for.
“That’s not it. I just–“ he groaned and grumbled in slight frustration, “I’ll just do it. But if you say anything fuckin’ stupid I will punch you”
Soap nodded, seeming completely unbothered by the threat thrown his way.
Ghost huffed again to try ridding himself of the unusual fear he felt before he grabbed the top of his mask and pulled it off.
His hair stuck out messily and the eye black around his eyes was smudged, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t those that he was worried about anyway.
Soap looked at him for a minute, taking in the face that he thought he’d never get to see up close. Simon didn’t match his gruff voice so it was making his brain stutter.
“Can you speak for a second?”
Ghost’s brows scrunched in confusion. This was not what he’d expected him to say.
“…What?”
“I just– I need to see your voice come from you. The voice hasn’t connected to the face yet. So…please?”
“Okay? What should I say?”
“I don’ know! Just– talk about our last mission or somethin’!”
So Ghost spoke for a couple minutes, just factually talking about the simple mission they’d had last as Soap stared at him.
“Alright, you gotta stop with the starin’. ‘S fuckin’ creepy,”
Soap seemed to have somewhat zoned out because he jolted out of his revery.
“Oi! ‘M not creepy!”
“Yeah, you are. Your, blue as fuck, eyes are staring into my soul” he chuckled.
Soap grumbled something under his breath as his cheeks flushed.
“Hmm~?” He teased, leaning in.
He grumbled it out again but Ghost could actually make out what he said this time, “Not m’ fault your a handsome lad…”
Out of all the things Ghost had been called, handsome wasn’t one of them. His chest warmed with gender euphoria at being called handsome, and with affection at how cute Soap looked all flustered.
“Not the reaction I was expecting”
That caught the sergeant’s attention, “What were you expectin’?”
“Well I’m not exactly very masculine looking, am I?” He said like it was obvious.
“And?”
Ghost just blinked at him, confused, “What do you mean ‘and’?! My face doesn’t match anything else about me!”
“I don’ think so,” he added quickly.
But that just served to confuse Simon more. He was a tall, muscular, generally pretty big guy, with a ridiculous baby face. How was that not weird to him?
“I don’t understand you. Never will” he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Gotta keep you on your toes, eh?” He chuckled.
His face became a bit more serious as he looked at Ghost’s face again. His eyes moved along his features as he turned his head slightly.
He anxiously hesitated for a good minute before he spoke again, “Can I touch you?”
He nodded and Soap brought his hand up to his cheek.
Ghost cringed at the feeling of his soft cheek squishing under his partner’s hand.
“Didn’t know you had freckles, Si” he spoke softly, “I like ‘em”
Ghost kept quiet as Soap continued his work. He grazed his fingertips over all the edges and scars that his face had, looking at him with something pretty damn close to awe.
Suddenly Soap took his face in his hands and kissed him. He leaned back and smiled lovingly, “Much better now that I can actually see your reactions to me~” he purred.
Ghost stuttered for a moment before yanking Soap back down to him, kissing him fiercely. Soap hummed into the kiss, pushing him back and climbing into his lap. Ghost’s hands immediately grabbed onto his waist and pulled him closer, causing Soap to groan.
Soap broke their kiss to move down to Ghost’s, now exposed, neck. He shivered lightly as Soap kissed and nipped and sucked at his skin, clearly trying to leave marks on him.
Apparently Soap had decided to push his luck, because he felt a smirk grow on his face as he moved the collar of Simon’s shirt. Then with the skin bare, he quickly sunk his teeth into the crook of Ghost’s neck.
A low growl came from deep in Ghost’s throat as he grabbed onto the messy brown mohawk and pulled. Soap quietly moaned as he was yanked back, breathing heavier.
“Watch yourself, sergeant” he warned, his voice having gone beautifully gravely.
Soap smirked, then groaned when the hand in his hair tightened its hold.
“Just taking advantage of the given opportunity, Lt~” he chuckled breathily, “You’re so pretty all marked up like that~”
He expected a strong wave of disgust to flow through him at the word ‘pretty’, but nothing really came. It was muted and blurred. Surprisingly, it kinda felt good coming from Johnny.
“Shut up” he pulled him down roughly, growling into the kiss as the lips met.
Soap just smirked into it, placing a nibble to Ghost’s bottom lip.