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Ghost has zero idea how he has ended up here, but he does know it's a world he truly doesn't want to live in.
The details of how he came to be in this alternative dimension are sketchy. All he remembers is being surrounded by enemies and getting flashbanged. By the time the ringing in his ears had stopped and the world felt right again, Ghost had found himself in a room back at base and not the dark damp showers of an abandoned building.
Upon further inspection the base looked different too, darker and colder. As he had walked the corridors, he had passed only a few people and who he did pass either looked at him in shock or disgust. He isn't even sure what he had done wrong exactly. Whatever it had been, it had been enough for his comrads to be horrified.
He decides that maybe Price would know what the fuck had just happened. So he walked along to his office, stopping dead in front of the door that said, Captain MacTavish on it.
What the hell? How the bloody hell had that happened?
Deciding the only way to find out was to go in, he knocked on the door and headed inside.
He expects to see Soap as he knows him. Youthful, a playful look in his eyes, a disgruntled look at a shitty joke. This Soap looks like he hasn't laughed in years. He looks older, harsher, haunted by things Ghost cannot see.
His expression when he meets Ghost's eyes is downright terrifying.
"Is this some kind of a sick joke?" Soap asks, his voice rougher and deeper and speaking of absolute danger when he looks at Ghost.
"Johnny?" Ghost tries to keep his voice soft, if anything though, it makes Soap angrier.
"Who the fuck are you calling Johnny? Take that mask off right now, you are a disgrace to this base." Soap snaps, moving from around the desk, his eyes hard and angry.
"I- I don't take this off, you know that." Ghost has never been backed up by anyone, but the murder in Soap's eyes makes him do so.
"Piss off with that, how dare you wear his mask! I should have you kicked off base!" Soap growls, grabbing Ghost's shirt and pulling him close. "To wear a dead sargent's mask? You have a death wish."
Dead? Ghost's world tilts off axis. He's not dead? He grabs his mask, pulling it off of his face so that Soap could see that it's him. "It's me Johnny? What's going on?"
Soap freezes, going so pale that Ghost thinks he is going to faint. His hands leave Ghost's shirt and he takes a few steps back, his eyes filled with anguish.
'You cannot be real, I've gone insane. I am hallucinating…." Soap rubs his hands over his eyes, his entire body trembling.
Ghost wants to comfort him, he wants to approach but isn't sure he can. This was not the Soap he knew. It was like this was another world, one where Soap was captain and he himself were dead.
Dead. He was fucking dead.
The words spin around and around his head, making him feel dizzy.
Soap looks up, meeting his gaze. "Is this my punishment for not saving you? For losing all the people I ever cared for?"
Ghost feels his stomach drop. God, this wasn't his Johnny. It makes him ache to see how much pain he is holding.
Knowing it was risky, Ghost moves over to Soap, approaching him like a wild animal. "I don't- I am not a punishment."
"Then why are you here?!" Soap yells the words, his voice catching with his emotion.
Ghost has no idea how to answer this, how on earth does he say that he thinks a flashbang sent him to a world where he was dead? How did he even put it in words?
He realises he can't use words. He steps forward carefully and when he is within touching distance of Soap, he pulls him in against his chest.
Soap freezes, and Ghost expects him to stab him, but then he seems to melt against his chest, as if his scent and warmth is familiar to him. He hides his face in his chest, hugging him tightly.
Ghost feels his chest tighten when he feels Soap return the hug. He finds himself moving onto the floor with him, holding him and just rocking him against his chest.
He doesn't know why he's been sent here, but he knows he is not leaving this version of Soap on his own like this. No matter what.
When Soap finally meets his eyes, his own tired and bloodshot, Ghost cannot help but lean down and kiss him softly. Soap is hesitant at first, but then carefully returns the kiss.
At least this is something familiar. Something his Soap would do.
When they pull back, Ghost carefully cradles Soap's face, his eyes tracing over every difference on his skin. Fuck, he wanted to take care of this man.
Maybe that was why he was sent here, maybe he could help this Soap heal.
Time would tell.