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Soap has been a bit mouthier than what Ghost thinks is normal. He's not contradicting or questioning Ghost, which is a good fucking thing, but he's speaking up more, offering opinions where he usually wouldn't, or asking Ghost to spell out the mission plan when he knows damn well what's supposed to happen. It's irritating because Soap has proven that he can think for himself and is, in fact, more intelligent than people give him credit for. The Sergeant is more than just a pretty face, not an average meathead alpha, and he's more competent than he has acting. He's also flirting more. His tone dips into suggestive and salacious even when he's saying something relevant to the mission.
After they're done with a mission, riding back to base and when they get there, he sticks to and talks at Ghost like they've always been buddies and like Ghost isn't an ill-tempered asshole. Ghost thinks about shoving something in Soap's mouth to see if that will work in making him be quiet. Or tape his mouth closed. Though, that may damage the man's plush lips and wouldn't that be a tragedy. They look soft and Ghost can imagine them drying out and cracking if Soap's not able to lick them or if adhesive is on them too long. Would they crack and bleed? What if Ghost sewed them shut? No, that'd be more trouble than it's worth , he thinks idly.
It's irritating and mildly distracting though when Soap's voice drops into something deeper, more gravelly, and his accent gets thicker. His scent flaring a bit, when he goes hot with emotion. To be fair, he talks to and flirts with just about everyone, but Ghost is the only one he seems to slide into that particular tone of voice with or hangs around the most during down time. On missions they all wear blockers, and thank fuck for that, but when they aren't and Soap is not, Ghost can't miss the way the mans scent thickens around him. While Ghost does not find the Sergeants scent offensive, it may distract others and that's more bothersome than he wants to deal with. Outside of the missions and training, the only time that Soap isn't within sight or talking distance of Ghost is when they're asleep, taking a piss, or using the showers.
And sure, some of that is Ghost's fault because he does watch Soap, hoping his staring and glaring will get the other alpha to stop and leave him alone. Sometimes Ghost responds to whatever Soap is saying. He's not sure why he does it. Brief insanity? No, there's nothing brief about him. So that's not it, it must be something else. Most of the time he wants to tell Soap to get lost and go bother someone else, but when he opens his mouth to speak, something completely different tends to come out. His words still have bite to them, a sharp edge and gruffness that would send any sane person running, but it never seems to deter Soap from talking to him.
During one mission, Soap says a few things too many that don't relate to the mission and Ghost finds his latest breaking point. They're in a tense situation, hunting down their target, and Ghost has been too keyed up to deal with an unfocused scatterbrained Soap. He grabs the Scotsman by the front of his vest and shoves him back against a tree, hard, and snarls in his face.
"Whoa there, Lt. Didnae think ye was into doin' it in this sort of scenery", the man grins and waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Ghost only just keeps from punching him.
"Keep it tactical or keep it to your-fucking-self, Sergeant", Ghost growls and it's the harshest he's talked to Soap thus far, "I don't want to hear another fuckin' word out of you unless it deals with the mission."
Wide eyed, Soap nods, then his expression turns serious and a bit cold.
"Yes, sir."
The mission is a success. In the transport on the way home, Soap is eerily quiet, but so is everyone else. When they get back to base, Soap doesn't start up talking again. Instead, he's quiet and he leaves Ghost alone.
Which is fine. It's fine.
Ghost is happy for the peace and quiet and space. Mostly. He's still able to watch Soap go about his day from afar, but it's clear that the Scottish alpha is avoiding Ghost. That's fine. Ghost couldn't give two shits. Until he comes across Soap chatting away with one of the newer recruits. They're a beta that has quickly become known for flirting with the alphas on base. Ghost can't help but notice that Soap and this beta are talking a lot. Leaning against the wall or chair or table and talking, leaned in close and the words coming easily between them. Ghost tells himself it doesn't matter and that the twisting and slithering in his gut is just irritation at Soap's lack of focus. When he has to track Soap down for an intel brief and finds Soap and the dead meat talking, Ghost muscles down the urge to rip the betas head from his neck and watch the body drop to the floor.
"If you would bother to shut up for a minute, Sergeant, we have a briefing to get to. Intel's just come in", he says coolly as he steps from the shadows and into the light of the hallway.
The recruits' eyes go owlishly wide when he realizes that Ghost had probably been standing there and staring as he and Soap talked for several minutes. Soap's expression goes from open and smiling, to neutral and forcefully indifferent. He nods and then moves to follow Ghost. As they walk, Ghost counts Soap's footsteps just behind him and wonders how the pace would change if the Sergeant were limping. They step into the elevator that will take them the three stories up to where the briefing room is, and Soap is silent. He hasn't talked to Ghost since he'd snapped at the younger man during the mission and while Soap had been going on and on with that guy and a few others on base, now that he's with Ghost he's quiet once again. Soap won't even look at him. Something inside of Ghost snaps.
"You never shut up, do you?", he says, his voice cruel and cold.
Soap remains silent, but the muscle in his jaw ticks like he's grinding his teeth. Ghost wants to press against it and watch it give under his touch. The Scot continues to refuse to look at him. Another surge of heat fills Ghost and he makes a low and derisive noise. A tense beat passes where he thinks Soap will continue to ignore him, but then Soap turns and is glaring at him.
"I hevnae bothered ye any. "
"It's been a joy", Ghost says coolly.
Lightning fast, Soap reaches out and jams the elevator stop button. The lift gives a jerk but neither of them sway.
"The fuck has yer knot in a twist?", Soap growls, scent flaring in frustration and accent thickening, "A'm doing what ye said. Keep i'tactical or keep i'ta myself."
That's true, but the silence is oddly unsettling. It's starting to remind him too much of suffocating darkness, walls of wood too close all around him, and the scent of decay clogging his nose. While Ghost had preferred silence before, something has changed, and change to something this integral has his hackles rising. He opens his mouth to say something else biting and harsh. That's not what comes out though.
"During a mission", he says evenly, "We've done this routine after missions before, and you always go back to the incessant chatter once we're done."
"Aye, an' that's the same 's now", Soap frowns, trying to look irritated but missing the mark and landing on mildly confused.
"You haven't said a word to me since the last mission."
It doesn't come out sounding the way he'd intended it too. While the tone is still harsh and rough, the words themselves are too open, more than he's ever been, and far too close to showing an emotion other than anger or neutral control. Soap blinks at him, still frowning.
"Ye haven't shown any sign that ye wanted me to talk to ye. Other than jus bein' a creep hangin' off the walls. Jus 'cause ye didnae want me to talk to ye donae mean A can't talk to other people."
"So you'll just skip on to the next guy that will let you quibble nonstop", Ghost snaps savagely, scoffing derisively.
"Oh, fuck ye, Ghos-"
The smack of Ghost's hand to Soap's cheek happens before either of them realize it. It's not a hard smack by any means. A little tap with a hint of sting from his fingers, but his gloves cushioned the brunt of the hit. It's nowhere near as hard as Ghost could have done. Wanted to do. Soaps lip's part on a breath that sounds like a sigh. He blinks like he's startled at the sound he made, eyes squinting for a moment like he’s thinking. Then Soap’s gaze is clearing and he shakes his head like he’s clearing it before looking up to meet Ghost's eyes head on. Oddly, Soap doesn't look the least bit upset or put out. How interesting .
"Feel better now, Lt?", he asks, a smirk slowly pulling at his lips.
A bit, actually . Ghost grabs him by the jaw, thumb pressing hard into the little splotch of pink from where he'd hit Soap. Tilting his head, Ghost stares at the color blooming on Soap's cheek. Hmm . He wants to see how red he can get it before Soap breaks for him. Soap swallows and Ghost watches the way his throat bobs. Maybe he could choke Soap. How would that go? How would that feel, the man's neck in his hands?
"Normal people would say they're sorry", Soap says calmly.
"I'm not sorry", Ghost growls back, eyes narrowing dangerously behind his mask.
And he's not sorry. The thing he's feeling isn't remorse, it's something a bit more sharp toothed and red eyed. It almost has his chest going as warm as he wishes he could make Soaps cheek. The need to claw and scratch makes his wrists twing and fingertips tingle.
"If ye wanted me t’ talk t’ ye 'gain ye jus’ had t’ say so, no need gettin' all pissed off 'bout it."
"I don't want you to talk to me. It's annoying."
Instead of answering like Ghost expects him to, Soaps jaw clenches as he clamps his lips shut. Ghosts hand flexes, tightening, and Soaps pupils expand as his scent deepens. Then the man is tilting his head defiantly, still in Ghost's grip, and raising a challenging eyebrow. Soap is toeing a dangerous line. Taking a breath, the older alpha takes a second to think. There's no way that Ghost is reading this wrong, but there's no way Soap is asking for what Ghost thinks he is. Certainly, Soap has to know that poking Ghost the way he is, isn't going to end well. Or maybe he does know, like a part of Ghost theorizes, and he's waiting to see what will make Ghost crack and what he'll do. If that's the case though, Ghost has to wonder why. It's hard to imagine that a strong, proud, kind, alpha like Soap would be offering up something like this to a monster like Ghost.
He releases Soap but doesn't move back, not wanting to put too much distance between them after not having the other alpha within his range the last couple of days. Soap continues to glare. A part of Ghost wants to force his eyes closed. Another part of him wants to see how dark and hazy he can get Soaps gaze to go. Soap is still looking at him with that challenge in his eyes and, well... Ghost raises his hand, not giving Soap time to move away, and gives the lightest of thwaps to Soap's cheek. All he gets in response is an amused sounding huff that is definitely condescending. Fucking brat . The man doesn't make a comment, doesn't speak. Ghost pulls back and the next hit is still open palmed, but it cracks across Soap's face and forces him to turn his head to the side.
"Ah-"
Soap straightens himself out and looks up to meet Ghost's eyes, resolutely silent and his gaze still challenging. Except there's a flush on his face and a haze starting to grow in his eyes. Ghost slaps him again. This time, Soap makes a soft breathy sound.
"Lt."
Ghost's skin buzzes and his teeth itch. The squirming in his gut starts to disappear. Without waiting for Soap to right himself, Ghost slaps the other side of his face.
"Fuck, Ghost..."
Ghost hits the same side a second time and doesn't pull back, instead grabs Soaps cheek harshly and forces their eyes to meet. He's leaning in close now. They're standing so close that Ghost can feel the heat bouncing between them. Soap leans into his touch and licks at his open lips as he pants lightly. The flash of his wet pink tongue distracts Ghost and before he can think against it, he slides his thumb against the man's bottom lip. He can't feel anything through his glove, but moisture seeps into the fabric and Ghost craves. Soap makes another breathy noise, eyes fluttering, before his eyes blink open and meet Ghosts.
"Hit me again, an’ A'll start talkin’ t' ye again."
It sounds like a threat. It sounds like a challenge. Ghost is going to make it a promise. Taking a breath, Ghost steps back, letting go of Soap's face. As he does so, Soap's expression falls; what looks like hurt and sadness and rejection cross his face before he's clearly forcing himself to hide it. Soap's scent starts to pull in like he's trying to force himself to get control of whatever he's feeling. Then Ghost reels back and delivers the hardest slap yet. It lands on Soap's left cheek and has the man tilting, leaning against the side of the lift. Soap moans and Ghost feels is cock jerk where he's slowly getting hard and pressed uncomfortably in his pants behind his gear.
Swallowing dryly past the imaginary taste of blood and dirt, Ghost reaches out and runs his fingers roughly through Soap's hair once and then rests his hand on the back of the other alphas head. A part of him wants to shove Soap away and another wants to pull him into Ghost. Soaps eyelashes flutter and Ghost stares at the way the light plays on the fine hairs and over Soaps skin. As the Sergeant lifts his head, turning back to Ghost, his cheeks are red. Ghost knows he could make it worse. He wonders if Soap would let him. Obviously not now, since they have a mission briefing to get to and then the mission, but afterwards. Maybe.
"Did ye ken the tv in the rec room is stuck on, like, three channels?", Soap says, breathy and his gaze is still a bit cloudy as he looks up, grinning, "Some shit American reality channel, one all 'bout cooking, an' a nature doc-"
Ghost takes the hand he still has in Soap's hair to twist him around and shove him roughly against the wall of the elevator, forcing the reddest side of Soap's face to the cool metal wall. Soap snickers as Ghost presses the button to get the elevator moving again with his other hand, and for the rest of the ride Soap keeps talking. He talks all the way out of the lift, down the hall, and to the briefing room, like he's trying to catch Ghost up on everything he hasn't said to him in the last few days. Ghost resolutely acts like he's not OK with it. He glares at anyone they pass and refuses to look at Soap as the alpha talks and walks next to him. When they reach the briefing room, Graves is sitting at a table with screens showing Laswell, Price, and Gaz. Graves blinks and asks what the hell happened to Soap's face.
"Got a wee carried away sparring", Soap grins.
It's not that bad. It won't even be mottled purple like a proper bruise, and there's no distinct handprint. Which is a shame. It will just be red for a bit and then a light bruise that may last for a couple of days but will mostly blend in with Soaps skin. Ghost is only a little miffed that he didn't get to hit Soap harder, mark him more clearly. Granted, they are likely about to head off on a mission in the next day or so, and Ghost can't have their Sergeant too badly hurt or distracted while they have work to do.
"Just don't know when to call it quits, eh brother", Gaz laughs good naturedly from wherever they are currently.
Soap just beams. Price glances at Ghost and even though Ghost knows there's no outward tell that he was involved, Price sighs, rolls his eyes, and starts the briefing.