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The mission didn‘t go as planned. At all. It was supposed to be easy. Get in, destroy their HQ, and get out unharmed. But as so often, things didn‘t go as planned and the stealth operation quickly turned into a hostage situation involving civilians. Tragically resulting in some casulties due to stray bullets. That, and the fact that Soap had been awake for about 28 hours can lead up to some unresolved tension.
After the inevitable gruelling mission debrief, Soap heads to his room to finally get some sleep, just to lay awake, staring at the ceiling and replaying every detail of the butched mission in his mind. He keeps tossing and turning, overthinking every single detail. The blood, the screams. When his breathing starts to quicken, he throws his blanket off, hastily pulls his shoes on and jogs outside to get some fresh air.
As he jogs around the compound to get his head free, he kinda forgets to look where he‘s going…which leads to him running into Ghost, who for some reason, is standing outside, leaning against the wall with his mask pushed up over his nose to be able to smoke on his half finished cigarette.
Soap quickly lifts his eyes, already starting an apology and ready to continue his spontanious run, when he sees Ghost already looking down at him „what are you doing out here at this time? Shouldn‘t you be passed out by now?“ „could ask ye the same Lt.“ Ghost simply shrugs „you look like you‘ve seen a ghost“ „ha ha, ver funny“ Soap answers sarcastically, although not quite metting Ghosts eyes. „…what‘s going on Johnny?“ Soap hesitates, leaning against the wall next to Ghost „jus‘ couldnae sleep. Too much thinking“ he mumbles, hesitant to admit the actual reasons to his superior. „You can talk to me, soap“ Ghost offers as he holds his cigarette out towards Soap. He nods, taking the cigarette from him and taking a drag, holding the smoke in for a moment, letting it fill his lungs, before exhaling.
„Jus‘ thinking if we could‘ve done anthin‘ to prevent those people from dying, ya know?“ Soap takes another drag before handing the cigarette back, keeping his eyes cast down.
Ghost grabs his chin, carefully lifting his head so that their eyes meet. „You‘ve done nothing wrong, Johnny. We didn‘t know that there‘d be any civilians. We did all we could do“ he says as he stares into these intese blue eyes. „Doesn‘t feel like it though“ Ghost stares at him for a moment before letting go of Soap‘s chin „you gonna be able to sleep alone?“ „you offering i won‘t have to?“ „only if it’ll help“ Soap chuckles under his breath, watching as Ghost throws the cigarette stumb on the ground and kicks it out.
They both head towards Ghosts room. It‘s not the first time they‘ve slept together after a hard day. They both figured that the company of the other helps. Soap trails half a step behing Ghost, staring at his half bound shoes he didn‘t bother to properly put on earlier, only looking up when Ghost stops to unlock his door.
When he opens his door, he steps aside to let Soap in first, as he always does. He sits down on Ghost‘s bed, looking around. The room always looks impeccable, atleast everytime Soap‘s over. He watches when Ghost heads into the bathroom to get changed into some more comfortable clothes. Soap lays back, pulling the thin blanket over himself, waiting for Ghost to join him as he stares back up at the ceiling, until he feels the mattress dip and a strong arm wrap around his shoulder „get some sleep, Johnny.“ Ghost mumbles, closing his eyes „ye too, simon“ Soap whispers back, watching as Ghost smirks beneath his mask, which he still often wears when they‘re together in private.
Turning onto his side and laying his head on Ghost‘s chest, he can finally fall asleep to the steady heartbeat beneath him.