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There is an undeniable fact on the 141 base, which of course was the fact that Ghost and Soap were always together. Eating breakfast they sat side by side. During training, the two of them worked together beating anyone unlucky enough to be pitted against them.
Solo missions turned into duo missions and free time was spent with them somewhere in the base doing whatever they decided that day.
Some rumors even suggested they switched dog tags.
Of course, sometimes a mission was strictly solo, leaving one-half of the pair alone on base. Soap if left at the base would become snappy and short-tempered, the complete opposite of his normal attitude.
Ghost if left would become more silent than normal and would have an ever-present cloud of anger surrounding him. Ghost would stomp around the base leaving the other soldiers to scamper out of his way. Everyone would part like the Red Sea to avoid drawing attention to themselves, lest they incur his wrath.
The base greatly preferred the two together; it was much better than the alternative.
No one knew what was going on between the two men and no one was stupid enough to ask. Their relationship just was. Fraternization was against the rules, of course, everyone knew. However, if their relationship was like that, well the 141 never played by the rules anyway.
Ghost and Soap, Soap and Ghost, a never-changing fact of the universe.
Whenever new recruits appeared for whatever reason, they would always without fail be extremely confused with the dynamic of Ghost and Soap.
A ray of sunshine hanging off a literal walking myth.
Ghost, The Ghost, Lieutenant Ghost, no matter how you knew the name everyone knows of the legend. A man with a kill count too high to keep a record of. A man who was stronger and more capable than a whole army. A man that doesn't exist, who is nothing but a ghost.
Most people didn't know if Ghost even existed; most thought he was just a story made by the superior officers to scare their subordinates. Some of course knew better be that by experience or sightings.
No matter, the point still stood. The shock on the new recruits' faces never failed to be amusing.
The whispers always started immediately after the first sighting of Ghost, the FNGs would do double takes before dawning realization would settle in.
The whispers would settle soon after but they would start again as soon as Ghost and Soap were spotted together. If Ghost was spotted the first time with Soap then Soap would be ignored. If Ghost was spotted for the first time with Soap practically or literally hanging off of him, the first set of whispers would merge into the second.
The second set of whispers was always speculation on the relationship between the two.
Soap was a notorious flirt; it was a well-known fact. No one was to actively flirt back however, you may be able to get a half-flirty comment out in rebuttal but anything more serious was a no-go.
Ghost would make sure of that.
Ghost if not already next to Soap would seemingly appear out of thin air behind the Scott. He would then glare at the offender that was stupid enough to flirt with the sergeant.
Soap was infamous for many things from being the reason there were no working microwaves on base to being the only person allowed to touch Ghost casually. However maybe what he was best known for was his fierce protective streak when it came to the masked lieutenant.
If the scott heard anyone bad-mouthing the man there would be hell to pay. Hell just so happened to come in the form of angry Scotts being hurled at the idiot who dared open their mouth.
Ghost was scary, that was something well known but there was something even scarier about the perpetually cheery sergeant devolving into angry curses. When people say no one can curse like a scott.... they're right. No one likes an angry Soap and in all honesty, they'd prefer to deal with an angry Ghost or even Price.
Soap was Ghost's and Ghost was Soap's.
~
Wolf was a new recruit, he was just placed on a base he knew nothing about. The supervisors said the people here would shape them into near-perfect soldiers, but he doubts that.
As soon as he stepped off the plane he was greeted by a man in a fishing hat, "Welcome to the 141's base I am Captain Price." The name rang a distant bell as notable but he couldn't place it.
After introductions, they were freed to put up their stuff and eat before training would begin. In the mess hall, the new recruits sat at a table and took in their surroundings. After everyone finished eating they made their way outside, the Captain was already waiting for them.
"Today you muppets will be training under my lieutenant since you haven't been broken in yet." Price told them all. Suddenly a voice came from behind them, "Dead." All the recruits jumped in surprise whirling around.
There stood a man at least 6'4 and about as big as a house. He wore all tactical gear with a black balaclava with a skull stitched onto it, all Wolf could see were his eyes surrounded by black paint one brown one blue.
"Rule one, always be aware of your surroundings. you would all be dead right now in a combat situation, your first one is free but if I catch you off guard again there will be consequences."
Wolf's mind supplied a name without needing to be given one, Ghost.
"Everyone, this is Ghost. He's in charge of you muppets now get to it." Price said after walking to Ghost's side. With his final statement, the Captain walked off.
The training was hard, far harder than at boot camp. By the time they finished and showered he contemplated skipping dinner, he didn't only because he knew he needed to eat.
When he sat to eat a noise drew his attention to the door, a man with a mohawk came in laughing loudly. "I'M TELLING YOU LT, FUNNIEST SHITE I'VE EVER SEEN." The Scottish accent wasn't expected but it fit.
Behind him followed......Ghost? The Lieutenant was only a few steps behind the enthusiastic man, while the Scott was practically vibrating.
"I'm sure it was Sargent." The Lieutenant replied with an emotionless voice. The Sargent just rolled his eyes and got a plate of food.
To his surprise Ghost after getting his food sat next to the Sargent, shoulder to shoulder they sat talking back and forth. It was the most the Lieutenant had talked all day.
He finished his food around the same time as the others at his table, and they all left to go back to their bunks and sleep off the training. Ghost and the Sargent had left too, the scott was talking animatedly while Ghost followed. They veered into another hall before entering what must have been.........Ghost's room?
Wolf was confused; the Sargent didn't seem to be someone that the Lieutenant would enjoy the company of. To each their own he supposes.
The next morning at breakfast Wolf sees yet again the Sergeant and Lieutenant sat together, this time Price and another man are there too. "Soap, are you helping train the new recruits today with Ghost?" The unknown man asks, and the Sargent responds "Ey we are showing them takedowns today, what are you doing Gaz?" The Sargent apparently Soap asks. That gave him the name of the other man.
"Me and Price are running some others in house clearing, I was going to ask you to join," Gaz told him.
Soap grones and Ghost chuckles, "I'll just have to beat your scores later then." Soap tells Gaz who just rolls his eyes.
Soon after breakfast Soap honored his statement to Gaz and joined Ghost. Wolf and the other recruits watched as Soap and Ghost showed them different takedowns.
Soap calls him up for a demonstration at one point. He’s confident he has a chance, when he goes for the Sargent's legs he's sure he has the man down. Soap just steps out of the way and the next thing He knows is he's on the ground.
Soap is above him with a smug smile, he gets up and offers him a hand. Wolf takes it. "Nice one Johnny." Ghost says seemingly for only Soap to hear. Soap turns to the Lieutenant with a smile, Wolf doesn't know what to make of the interaction.
Day after day he sees the two soldiers seemingly always together without fail, others notice too but everyone on base treats it as if it is to be expected. In fact, the only time there are ever weird looks is when they're not together. He too comes to accept the duo without a second thought.
Much later when he is sent on a mission with the two other soldiers he sees Soap get shot. Wolf's heart drops.
"JOHNNY!"
He has NEVER heard that tone from his Lieutenant and never wants to hear it again. He has never seen someone move faster in his life.
Ghost is by Soap in an instant, "I'm OK Si just grazed me." Soap response and Wolf practically melts in relief, Ghost however doesn't look any less murderous.
Ghost helps Soap to a building before leaving, Ghost single-handedly kills everyone he can get within arms reach of.
He watches in horror as Ghost tears through the enemy, someone patches up Soap but he doesn't know who.
As Ghost is slicing up the last soldier Soap steps up behind him, "Simon I'm OK stop it's over." Soap tells him as he puts a hand on the Lieutenant's shoulder.
He has NEVER heard anyone call Ghost Simon or Si. He is willing to bet Soap is the only one that can.
Ghost stops slicing the last enemy soldier up and looks back to Soap, eyes wild. Soap just steps closer and he is wondering how Soap can do it. Ghost looks like he is going to gut anyone in the vicinity, but Soap ignores it.
Soap slowly sinks down to Ghost's level and inches closer, "It's over Si it's over, I'm OK." Soap continues trying to talk the Lieutenant into calming down, Ghost suddenly surges forward and Wolf is frozen in fear.
Soap seems to be expecting it and just wraps his arms around Ghost, Ghost wraps himself around Soap holding him fiercely. Soap holds him the same way, "It's OK Simon just breathe."
He along with the other soldiers are frozen in shock at the display, Ghost covered in blood looking like a small child in Soap's arms. The big bad Lieutenant, the scariest man alive, looked like a scared child.
Soap pulled Ghost's masked face from his neck so he could look him in the eyes, Soap pulled up the mask only slightly before kissing him.
Wolf couldn't say he was surprised.
..……………………………………………….
"We need the best soldier you've got for this mission, Laswell."
"I've got two, they can get the job done with ease, General," Laswell responded curtly to the new General before turning to go and contact Price.
"Two? I just need one Laswell." Laswell just shrugs, "They're a packaged deal best of the best just like you asked."
The General concedes with a sigh.
The General, General Harris was given the soldiers' files before the briefing to read over them.
Sergeant John 'Soap' MacTavish
'What the hell kind of name is Soap?'
and
Lieutenant Simon 'Ghost' Riley
MacTavish's file is straightforward. The youngest person to ever make it into the SAS. He was the top of his SAS regiment; a demolition expert and a sniper to boot.
Riley's file however is almost completely blacked out. Harris asks Laswell to confirm she got the right file and Harris does; it's just that classified.
"The only people who know what's blacked out is Ghost, the people personally involved in the classified missions, and a select few people who shouldn't know but do anyway," Laswell explains briefly before returning to what she was previously doing.
"And who are the people that know but shouldn't?" The general asked, raising an eyebrow. It was against regulations to talk about classified information, anyone with or that gave away that knowledge would be dishonorably discharged.
Laswell looks back up meeting Harris's eyes with a challenge. "It doesn't matter classified or not, it was Simon's story to tell. And because he told other people he's doing better. Something to know about Ghost, don't question something that's working." Laswell then continues talking to Price
Harris goes back to read Riley's file. The only thing she can make out from the file is that he is a sniper and a hacker. He was sold out by a previous superior before appearing back months later as 'Ghost'.
When the video briefing starts Harris is greeted by the face of MacTavish that she saw on his file. Behind the Sergeant stood a tall figure with a black balaclava with a skull stitched onto it.
So this is the infamous Ghost….
"Laswell, ye needed us?"
"Yes, thank you for agreeing to help on such short notice."
"Ey always" the scott agreed easily.
"We need to get this done now and you two are the best option. A Russian cartel has begun to use human trafficking as a payment method, we also have evidence to suspect this cartel of having ties with terrorist groups." Laswell explains to the waiting men.
"The terrorists could use the victims as hostages to get leeway." Ghost concluded his tone emotionless. Soap however had a faint look of horror as he too connected the dots.
"Exactly, we need to shut this down now, a helo will be there to pick you up in ten minutes. You boys need to get packed, good luck." With a nod, the men ended the call.
"Who exactly are they Laswell?" Harris asked the agent, "Task Force 141 men, the 141 is an anti-terrorism unit under the command of Captain Price. The 141 has 4 members: the Captain, Soap, Ghost, and Gaz. They were all hand-picked by Price.
Legally they don't exist for the men's own safety, I call them in if their expertise is needed." Laswell explains while gathering her papers and laptop.
"I'll get you when they touch down." And with that, Laswell leaves.
~
When General Harris hears from the men again it is the next morning, Laswell gives them all the information she has and the men begin to plan.
"Overwatch would be nice but I think we need the both o us on the ground ey Lt,?" Soap suggests and Ghost makes a hum of acknowledgment.
Harris is surprised the Sergeant is suggesting a plan to his superior. "No overwatch, silent infiltration, ground floor first then we make our way up. Clear the top level than the basement." Ghost tells his Sergeant.
Soap agrees and the two set off.
"Ready for breach LT."
A bash could be heard over coms followed by suppressed shots. After only a few seconds the shots stopped and Ghost spoke. "I'll take right." The two cleared the rest of the first floor and met back up.
"Take point, Johnny."
Harris blinked hard and looked at Laswell, Laswell didn't even blink at the interaction…..like it wasn't new. The General focused back in to hear them clearing the second floor. "Shame tis is a stealth mission," Soap muttered seemingly to himself.
"Not every mission requires explosives, besides you blow enough stuff up at the base. Just yesterday the new microwave exploded and everyone heard Price chasing you." Ghost responded, tone flat. "Away n' bile yer heid!." Soap snaps back. Ghost just chuckles.
Laswell just sighed and shook her head. "If Price wants to keep a microwave in one piece for a week, he needs to take my advice and hide the damn thing." The agent said seemingly to herself after muting her coms
Harris just stared bug-eyed at her. How the hell has MacTavish not got kicked out of the military yet?
"Just like old times." Ghost responds to Soap drawing the two's attention back to the men.
"Least I don't av a bullet in my shoulder tis time, besides that all we're missing is ur shite jokes." Soap remarks sarcasm dripping from his words.
"Why are colds bad criminals?" Ghost asks deadpan.
Soap audibly groans "I was joking Simon." A pause, "Why?" He asks clearly exasperated.
"Because they're easy to catch." Ghost responds, voice light. Soap just sighs, "My sides clear."
"Mine too, let's get the hostages." Ghost answers with a smug tone. Soon Ghost tells Laswell over coms they were moving to the basement.
Farris had to admit the men were good, really good, Laswell was right. It took these two a third of the time it would have taken the best soldier she had ever previously seen. These men did it with such ease it was almost scary, hell they even bantered back and forth with each other.
Screaming could be heard over coms as shots were fired, "FUCKING SHITE!" Was cursed before everything came to an abrupt halt.
"Move and the girl gets it." A Russian-accented voice filtered through.
"Ey ye made ur point 'm not moving," Soap responded, voice calm.
"What's going on in their Soap?" Laswell asked urgently. Farris shifted in her seat anxiously, "Drop your weapon!" The Russian demands and a clatter followed immediately after.
"No weapon, now step away from the girl ye got what ye wanted. No one needs to get hurt here." Soap said, voice still calm.
"ON YOUR KNEES!" The man demanded and a light thump followed, "YOU killed everyone and you expect no consequences." The Russian demand.
"Soap, what is going on," Laswell demands again.
"I was just following orders mate." Soap explained, "You're giving terrorists hostages right? Give them a special ops soldier, don't hurt the girl."
"You have a point, you must be a valuable pawn if you could single-handedly take down my men." The Russian said seemingly considering Soap's statement.
"Alright, you have convinced me."
A few steps then a crash and screaming.
"Fucking perfect Lt," Soap muttered, relief clear in his voice. "Soap to Watcher 1 hostages are safe no casualties, requesting exfil." Laswell and Harris both let out relieved sighs. "Watcher 1 copies all exfil is two clicks out." A pause, "Thank you."
"Of course." Ghost replies before Soap speaks again, "Lass ye alright?"
No response, "Ghost free the others I got her." Quiet voices and shuffling followed, and eventually, everyone could be heard leaving the building.
"LT can I blow up the building now?" Laswell facepalmed and Farris sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. A sigh could be heard over coms, "If this will stop you from exploding anything on base for the next week then yes if not, no." Ghost answered.
Almost manic laughter follows, "I'll be right back." The Sergeant says, sounding half-deranged.
"Bloody fucking hell." Ghost's voice reverberates through coms sounding half annoyed half……fond?
Minutes later after giggles filled the coms the helo arrived, "Come on Johnny the helo is here, time to get out of here." Ghost commanded.
"Ey sir on my way." Soap agreed, as the helo landed Laswell and Farris could hear the sound of Soap arriving back with the group. "You best warn the pilot before you explode the thing." Ghost warns the man.
Soap does just that and after everyone is on the helo Soap starts to count down.
"3,2,1…..boom."
A loud explosion follows and then manic laughter, Farris just sits there concerned while Laswell just chuckles.
Farris doesn't know what to make of the two soldiers but she decides she never wants to get in their path. They're lucky to have them.
…………………………………………………
Grant had lived in Glasgow his whole life.
He lived in a flat on the city outskirts, the city was just a bit too loud for him, but he enjoyed the peace and quiet. There was a flat next to his that was never occupied, or at least it hadn't been since he moved here a year ago.
That was until one day in the fall a car pulled up to the flat. Grant had peaked out his window in curiosity, "Home sweet home." Said the man exiting the car, he had a Mohawk and a scar across his left eye. From the passenger side, another man exited the car.
This man easily dwarfed the first man, it was almost comical. Grant didn't know anything about the military, but it isn't hard to tell these men are soldiers.
"I will admit, Johnny, Scotland is beautiful." The taller man says his voice is deep and gravelly; he is also distinctly British.
"I told ye' you'd love it, "The scott, Johnny, replied. The two men got bags out of the car and went inside the flat.
Grant had a sneaking feeling this was going to be interesting, the next morning Grant heard bickering outside. He looked out his window once again to see the two men, "Simon ye' can't go into town in the skull balaclava, just wear the skull mask instead." The scott told who he guessed was Simon.
"It just feels weird, I'm so used to having the mask on……..and being around so many people." Simon explained fidgeting with what Grant guessed were his dog tags, "I know Si but yer' gonna scare the civvies, not everyone is used to a 6 '4 man that's built like a house with a skull balaclava on." Johnny replied sympathetically, but humor laced his tone.
"Soap, I hate to break it to you but not many people, even on base, are used to me, it's just you and the team." Simon shot back.
Johnny…Soap? Let out an annoyed huff, "You say that like you don't purposely scare the shite out of anyone on base that's not 141."
Simon stayed quiet, Grant guessed Soap was right.
"Now come on, I'm hungry, and I know you are too." Soap said and got in the car, a moment later Simon followed and took the passenger seat.
It was only a few hours later when the men arrived back to the flat, both men gathered arms full of bags from the car. Some look like grocery bags, others just general store things, "Finally the flat is livable again." Soap says to no one in particular
He then turns to Simon, "Are you sure you're ready for her to come over? I can just go to Ma's house, and you can stay here."
Simon shifts, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm sure Johnny, besides it might help me adjust some more. Plus she's family. If I can handle anyone, it would be another MacTavish."
Soap seemed to soften at that and smiled, so lovingly, Grant would have melted on the spot if anyone directed a smile like that at him. "All you have to do is tell me it's too much, and I'll get her to leave." Soap promises and they walk inside.
Grant doesn't know the relationship between the two men but, whatever it is, it's deeper than anything he had ever experienced. Someone that would be willing to tell his own mother to leave, a mom he seems to love and miss deeply. He would kick her out;if it was too much for Simon.
Grant didn't need to see a lot to know Simon isn't good with people. The few conversations he had witnessed made that clear.
Around lunch, another car appeared, and out stepped a shorter woman who was maybe around 60. She went and knocked on the door, and seconds later Soap appeared.
He opened the door and a teary smile greeting his ma'. "John" was all the woman got out before pulling the man into a hug. Soap stumbled with the force of the hug, it's funny a big military man almost being put on his ass by his mother, who is about 5 inches shorter than him and half his weight.
When they both pulled back, their eyes were red from crying, "I missed you Ma' I missed you so much."
"John I…" his Ma' starts only to stop as she stares past her son. Soap just smiles wider and gestures to who Grant guesses is Simon.
"Ma' this is my Lieutenant, Ghost." Soap tells her.
Ghost, that's an interesting name he guesses it's a nickname like Soap. Ghost and Soap or Simon and John, Simon being Soap's lieutenant, is interesting. If their relationship is what he suspects it is, it wouldn't be allowed.
"Simon." Ghost corrects
"What?" Soap's Ma' questions, looking quite lost.
"Ghost is when the mask is on. I'm Simon right now."
Soap looked back to him radiating fondness and joy, the woman took it in stride, offering out a hand to Simon.
Simon took it with a nod of his head, "It's nice to meet you, Simon, I'm Fiona."
They go inside, leaving Grant to ponder on the new information about his mysterious neighbors. Simon or Ghost the few times he had seen him had always had on some form of mask. He saw him the first two times with a skull balaclava, then a skull neck gaiter.
The blond hair was a shock, but the scars weren't, he couldn't see many because of the distance, but he saw some, and he was willing to bet there were more. It's probably why he hid his face.
He doesn't hear anything else until later that night when Soap and Fiona are talking outside. "He's a lovely lad. I'm glad you found someone." Fiona tells her son, who is looking at the stars now visible in the night sky.
Soap responds not taking his eyes off the stars, "I'm the luckiest man in the world, I never thought I could crack a shell as hard as Simon Riley's but… he thought he didn't need anyone, that Simon was dead, he was right for a long time Simon died I have no doubt. Ye can't go through what he's been through and still be whole, but he's not a machine, not like he insists. I'm glad I brought Simon back from the dead, and I'm glad I got to meet him to love him because he deserves it, he deserves the world."
Fiona looks at him for a long moment before responding, "He's as good as my own flesh and blood, he's family as long as he'll have us. Yer' sisters will be overjoyed to meet him."
Soap looks at her again with a smile and teary eyes.
"Ye' best have that wedding soon so ye' can get er' name changed for free, so it will fit er' clothes and somewhat er' tag," Fiona tells her son with a cheeky smile.
"MA'!"
~
It was a few days later before anything else interesting happened. One morning yet another car appeared and another two men stepped out, "I'm surprised the flats still in one piece." The taller man with a fishing hat and mutton chops observed.
The other man snorted, he had on a baseball cap and sunglasses.
"Ghost's doing his job then." The second man observed, just then the front door opened and Simon stood in the door frame, maskless.
Grant froze, taking in the rest of his appearance, he had slight stubble, a scar running diagonally through the right side of his lips and one across the bridge of his crooked nose. However, what was most notable were the two glasgow scars that branched from either side of his mouth.
"Price, Gaz nice to see you, coming in or are you going to stand out there all day?" Simon asks the men with a raised eyebrow.
"We're just admiring the fact the house isn't blown up." The first man says with a smile, "Nice to see you, Simon, I was afraid Soap would have talked you to death by now."
Simon snorted, "Johnny couldn't kill me if he tried."
Price and Gaz shared a look but say nothing and went inside.
After the men left (he learned the fishing hat man was their Captain and the other man was Gaz, another Sergeant like Soap.)
Simon and Soap were sitting outside at night looking at the stars, "I'm going to miss this" Soap said to the man next to him.
"Miss what?" Simon asked as he ran his fingers through Soap's overgrown mohawk. "The domesticity, when we get back it's back to war term countries and terrorists. Here in Glasgow, it's just us Johnny and Simon, everywhere else we're Soap and Ghost." Soap observes.
Simon looks at the sky and then back to Soap, "It's nice I didn't think I'd ever find civilian life enjoyable again but… if it's with you"
Soap looks at him and smiles a love-sick little thing, "One day we will retire and live here forever, together in one house with a shared name."
"You want to marry me?" Simon asks, shocked.
"If you'll ave' me." Soap tells him earnestly, Simon is just staring at him, mouth agape.
"I could never say no to you, Johnny," Simon says, holding Soap's face in his hands.
"John MacTavish Riley and Simon Riley MacTavish has a nice ring to it." Soap says before pulling the other into a kiss.
…………………………………………………
Price first noticed the difference when he and Gaz helped them escape the Vaqueros compound. On the ride back to the safe house, Ghost had placed himself next to Soap.
That in of itself had him confused. He sat so close to Soap they were touching from their boots to shoulders. Ghost never touches anyone; he would actively avoid contact whenever possible.
So him putting himself that close to Soap said a lot, he however didn't mention it, not wanting to make Ghost uncomfortable. Soap also seemed to enjoy the closeness, the Sergeant leaned into Ghost, and to Price's surprise, Ghost said and did nothing.
Price had seen Ghost break a recruit's hand because the poor FNG had patted him on the back. The worst part was that Ghost didn't mean to. It was all instinct, he hadn't wanted to hurt anyone. Ghost didn't talk for a week after the incident, no one touched him again unless it was absolutely necessary.
When they made it to the safe house, everyone gathered inside to hear what Laswell had found. After the explanation, Ghost had all but grabbed Soap and hauled him to the other side of the room.
Price blinked in surprise, he turned to Gaz to make sure he was seeing this right. Gaz meets his eyes, looking as if he saw a pig sprout wings and fly away. Price was right there with him.
Rudolfo had come up next to him, he looked over at the Sergeant Major and raised an eyebrow. Rudolfo explained that Soap was shot during Grave's betrayal, which would explain Ghost's concern.
Price looked back over to them only to see Soap half on top of Ghost, his head on the lieutenant's shoulder, seemingly asleep. Ghost too seemed to be sleeping with his chin on top of Soap's head.
"You're seeing this too, right, Captain?" Gaz asked in shock, "I see it, Kyle, still working on believing."
~
When Ghost took off his mask, Price was happy to greet Simon once more, He looked around to see everyone's reaction. Alejandro and Rodolfo seemed surprised but pleased. Gaz looked gobsmacked and Soap, Soap looked mesmerized.
Price couldn't help the small smile at the reaction, Simon too seemed pleased with the reactions or maybe the lack thereof. He couldn't be too sure when it came to him.
~
When Price saw Ghost rushing towards him, he couldn't say he was surprised, he, however, was surprised Soap wasn't with him.
"You broken?"
"I'm solid."
Ghost helps him to his feet before doing the same for the pilot, as the pilot reoriented himself Price goes looking for his cigars. "My cigars are gone, MY CIGARS!" Ghost walks up to his side with a roll of his eyes, Price distinctly feels like Simon isn't taking this seriously.
Before he can reprimand his lieutenant an explosion rumbles in the distance, Ghost snaps around looking a second away from bolting towards the explosion. His eyes are wild and……scared? Price suddenly realizes he isn't looking at Ghost, but rather Simon.
"Soap to Ghost, I'm with Rudy. Graves is KIA. How's Price?"
Ghost practically deflates, he takes a steading breath (it's shaky) and responds.
"Angry. Lost a good cigar in the crash... Pilot's okay, too. Out."
Price decides to not mention the fear and slip of persona for everyone's sake.
~
When Price and Gaz hear Soap's pained warning for Ghost to watch the window, they share a horrified look. When Soap responds a minute later complimenting Ghost and Ghost replies obviously relieved, Gaz, and he could cry in relief.
Neither of them wanted to lose Soap. Gaz saw him as a brother, Price as a son, and Ghost well he didn't know, but he suspected it was as a bit more than just a friend.
When they made it outside, just to be surrounded by police and CIA. It was overwhelming, but he would deal with it. The crowd parted around someone who was making their way towards the group, Price didn't have to guess who it was.
When the mountain of a man got to them, he rushed to Soap who was being held up between Gaz and himself. Ghost all but shoved Gaz and him away from the Sergeant before burying his face in the scots neck.
"Johnny."
It was the only thing Ghost said, but that one word said more than what could EVER be put into words.
"Simon."
Soap matched the confession. Gaz made a choking sound next to him, he could sympathize.
The suits seemed confused and scared of the behemoth masked man. It was understandable considering that if anyone got close to him or Soap Ghost would glare at them hard enough, it was a wonder they didn't drop dead on the spot.
The only people Ghost allows near them are the medics. However, they too seemed very scared of the Lieutenant.
When they get back to the hotel after the bar, Price elects to ignore seeing Soap drag Ghost into his room.
~
Gaz wasn't stupid, he had seen the shift in the relationship between Soap and Ghost. It was impossible to miss, the notorious loner Ghost now having a perpetual shadow or being the perpetual shadow.
Soap and Ghost now Inseparable, attached at the hip. It was tooth rottingly sweet. The nicknames, the jokes. He had never seen Ghost so……happy.
When Gaz saw Soap walk out of the lieutenant's room a few mornings in a row, he wasn't surprised. He, like everyone on base, ignored it because who were they to look a gift horse in the mouth?
Ghost had never been more pleasant, compared to how he normally was, he might as well be a saint.
One morning, he walked into the 141's rec room and saw Soap laying on top of Ghost. Their legs were intertwined. Soap's arms are wrapped around Ghost's large torso while Ghost's arms wrapped around Soap holding him close.
Soap's head is buried in Ghost's neck, and Ghost's balaclava-covered face is buried in Soap's hair.
All he can do is stare and shock. A moment later, Price walks in and freezes beside him.
"Is this……even allowed?" Gaz hates to ask, but curiosity killed the cat. Price just sighs, "No, but, who's going to tell them no?" Price challenges.
He thinks on it for a moment but comes up empty and just shrugs.
~
Gaz tactfully doesn't mention when hickeys and suspicious scratches start appearing. He suppresses smiles when Ghost puts a protective arm around the Sergeant when someone looks at Soap in a way Ghost doesn't appreciate.
He has also seen Soap put a few recruits on the ground for bad-mouthing his lieutenant.
This of course isn't even mentioning the times he's just seen him bite Ghost…just out of the blue. Ghost just looks at him weirdly and shoves him away.
When in showers one day, Soap's tags catch his eye. Instead of 'John MacTavish' it instead reads 'Simon Riley'.
Gaz can't help the smile when he sees it, Soap meets his eyes, seeming to realize what he spotted. The scott blushed but had one of the most pleased smiles on his face that Gaz had ever seen.
~
Laswell visited the base after a few months. Finally finished with the cover-ups and destroying proof anything had happened. When she touched down, she was greeted by the 141.
She noticed Soap and Ghost standing flush together, she raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Later that evening, she cornered Price and asked what the deal was.
Price just smiled and told her to figure it out herself.
She watched the two for the rest of the day, they never left each other's side. It was endearing. This wasn't the Ghost she knew, the Ghost she knew would have killed Soap for daring to get close to him, not lean into every touch like a cat seeking affection.
And Soap was all too happy to give affection; it came as easy as breathing for him. When they all gathered to watch a movie in the rec room, she couldn't help but notice how they curled up together.
The next morning, after breakfast, she enters the gym. It's early enough no one should be here, She's wrong.
Soap and Ghost are on the sparring mat. Soap is shirtless with some sweatpants on, while ghost is in a black T-shirt and sweats.
What really catches her attention are the bruises, it's quite obvious where they came from with marks that look suspiciously similar to claw marks or handprints.
The match begins, and they match each other hit for hit, each of their strengths is the other's respective weakness, making them the perfect match. Eventually, Soap gets pinned, but it's close.
Before Laswell can even catch up, Ghost leans down before pulling up his mask to sit on the bridge of his nose and kisses the man below him.
Laswell blinks in surprise before clearing her throat.
Soap and Ghost part Ghost quickly pulling the mask completely down, Soap just looked at her practically glowing
"Really boys?"
…………………………………………………
Graves was briefed by Shepard about who he was going to work with. Being told he was going to work with the legendary Ghost was a shock, but a welcomed one.
Meeting him for the first time was jarring. Having to look up, and up, and up before meeting two mismatched eyes. Graves greeted the Lieutenant with a smile, "Nice to finally meet you, Lieutenant Riley."
Ghost stiffens before biting out a response, "It's Ghost." That's all Graves got out of him before he walked away. Graves just blinked surprised, "OK, Ghost then." He muttered.
The next time he saw him there was another man next to him, the other man had his back to him, so he couldn't tell who it was. However, he had a mohawk so Graves could make an educated guess.
MacTavish was gesturing wildly to Ghost, Ghost for his part seemed to want to be anywhere but here. Ghost suddenly tilted his head as if he was listening to something, he might have been. Ghost wore his headphones that were connected to the comms channels. "Price says we're leaving in 10 minutes, pack up, sergeant." Ghost says as he leaves the room, cutting off MacTavish mid-sentence.
The two 141 men left before he got to talk to them, well he would get a chance later.
~
Then he and his Shadows saved the team on the ground, they found Hassan and captured him. He watched as Ghost moved over the Sergeant seemingly checking on him, MacTavish seemed pleased by the attention, but it didn't last long. Ghost soon walked over to the side, leaving him to interrogate Hassan.
As they let the man go after getting close to nothing, they settled at the Los Vaqueros base. He and his Shadows were put on one side while the 141 was put on the other side, funny enough they placed MacTavish and Ghost in the same room. He heard a few Shadows place bets on how long MacTavish would survive, he wasn't betting long personally.
The next morning at breakfast he was surprised to see the two sitting together, MacTavish was talking and surprisingly Ghost actually seemed to be listening.
It was interesting what a few days could do to people, he never expected The Ghost to actually warm up to the Sergeant, though. He wasn't the only one surprised, either, his men were quite confused as well.
"What the hell changed in the short time they began working together?" One Shadow asked another, no one had an answer.
"Commander, you've got to see this, Ghost and MacTavish are sparring." One of his Shadows, Nola if he remembered right, said after, all but skidding to a halt and saluting.
There was excitement radiating off her as she practically bounced in place. He raised an eyebrow at her but shook his head with a slight smile, "Let's go watch it then." He tells her as he lets her lead the way to the gym.
They made it to the gym just in time to see the two men circling each other. MacTavish lunges first to no one's surprise, he leads left before veering right going for Ghost's right leg. Its smart Ghost is huge. MacTavish has no chance in a completely fair fight, Ghost would wipe the floor with him.
Ghost didn't even move until MacTavish was halfway through his lunge, he sidesteps and goes to grab the Sergeant. MacTavish is caught as he hits the ground but immediately twists, trying to buck the hold. Ghost wasn't having it and tried to box him in with his thighs to prevent him from twisting out of his grasp.
MacTavish goes limp for a moment before throwing his body weight against the Lieutenant. The momentum and weight dislodges Ghost slightly, but enough for MacTavish to escape and then lunge. Ghost managed to get his balance back and barely reacted in time to meet MacTavish head-on.
They grappled for a moment before Ghost started to get the upper hand, MacTavish suddenly ceases his effort, causing Ghost to fly forward. MacTavish twists, twisting their legs and locking Ghost's arms.
Ghost throws his weight and headbutts MacTavish forcing him to his back, Ghost puts his entire weight on MacTavish sitting on his chest. He crossed MacTavish's arms over his head and pinned them, both men panting hard as MacTavish struggled helplessly.
"Ey, I'm done, you win." MacTavish croaks between panting breaths, Ghost gets up and offers a hand to MacTavish. He takes it with a smile, getting back up to his feet.
Graves is shocked by how evenly matched they are. Anyone who can match Ghost should be respected and feared in equal measures. His Shadows too seem to realize how capable MacTavish is, their view of him shifting accordingly.
~
While MacTavish goes to get El Sin Nombre in custody, Conner and the others sit and wait. "He is insane, not only can he match Ghost, but he's willingly walking into the lion's den." One muttered to another, Conner was only half listening. He was much more interested in Ghost, he almost never spoke over coms, but now he was dead silent. It was unnerving, to say the least.
When Soap got his comms back, the chatter started back up and soon El Sin Nombre was in custody. Ghost appears out of thin air, all but materializing behind the scott. "Soap you broken?" The sudden voice draws more attention. MacTavish meets his eyes and smiles, "I'm good."
And with that everyone leaves, going back to the Vaqueros base to interrogate Valeria.
When he and the Shadows get the call to take the base, he doesn't know what to think. He likes the Vaqueros, and it really isn't fair but orders are orders, he and the others do as told and round the Vaqueros up.
When he goes outside to meet Graves, he gets about halfway before he here's gunshots. Sprinting, he gets to the gate only to see Mactavish get shot and propelled backward.
"Go, Johnny! Get out of there! Soap Go!" Ghost orders. Conner has heard that tone of voice before, it's the tone of someone terrified. It doesn't fit Ghost, not in the slightest, it's unnerving. MacTavish makes his escape and Conner doesn't even blink and Ghost has disappeared.
Being told to hunt the 141 and the citizens makes him sick to his stomach, these are innocent people, they don't deserve it. Conner is sure MacTavish was dead by now, but movement catches his eye.
MacTavish suddenly had a knife to his throat and in one swift movement the knife sliced, and he was left to bleed out and die. As he lay dying, he heard a familiar voice filtered through MacTavish's comms.
"Beautiful Johnny, now let's get you to the church and get us out of this shithole."
All Conner thought as he died was 'We really underestimated the 141 and more specifically John Soap MacTavish.'
~
Everyone was dead. Robin didn't know what to do. Dead civilians and Shadows cover the streets. She had refused to kill anyone she would rather turn the gun on herself, the citizens and 141 weren't enemies the Shadows were in the wrong. Graves was in the wrong. Shepard was in the wrong.
She spotted Ghost going through the town killing any Shadow in sight, she made sure to stay out of his way. She didn't want to die; she had no delusions that she could beat him in a fight.
When she saw him and MacTavish book it to a truck and run two more Shadows over, she kept well clear.
When they infiltrated the base and freed the prisoners, she had half a mind to make a run for it. She didn't however, but she did shoot a few Shadows that were getting a bit too close to the group, when Captain Price appeared on comms she ducked and ran. They were safe now, but she was certainly not.
~
Graves knew it was a losing battle, but he wasn't going down without a fight. Soap and Rodolfo were going to kill him; he knew that he had no delusions. He spit and snarled the whole time, when he was dragged out of the tank by the scott he knew it was as good as done.
"You burned us." It wasn't a question, so he didn't answer the Sergeant who was all but scruffing him. "You n Shepard will pay for this, all those civilians slaughtered innocent blood all over ye hands." He spit, disgust palpable.
"I did what I had to do." He spit back defensively, the Sergeant let out a disbelieving scoff. "Ye did what ye were ordered to, ye could av stopped at any time, ye coward."
Suddenly Ghost appears at his side looking down at him, "Johnny, time to finish this we have another missile to stop." Ghost said, laying a hand on Mactavish's shoulder. MacTavish deflates at the contact before shooting him in the chest and tossing him into the fire to burn.
…………………………………………………
The Ghost. A story told to you as a warning whenever a poor idiot would decide to join a cartel or a terrorist group.
Ghost, a being that would appear without a sound, destroy everything, and leave just as quickly. A single-man army, more capable than anyone has the right to be.
Nozar was a new member of one of the Iranian terrorist groups, he didn't know exactly why he joined, but he did. He was told of Ghost like everyone, he just assumed it was a scare tactic.
He was wrong
Everyone was dead, bodies littering the floor. To his left and right, slit throats and bullet holes. He walked through the compound not finding a soul still breathing, and there were no signs of a struggle. Like they simply just laid down and died.
He rounded another corner, gun raised, he stopped in his tracks as a hulking figure pulled a knife out of another previous ally's forehead. Nozar shrunk back in surprise as the figure turned slightly, the moonlight caught on a skull mask giving it an unearthly glow; a distinct red smear was on the right side of it.
Then another figure came into view, this one had on a red skull mask. "L.t. you got a little something there." The second man who sounded Scottish reached up and wiped the blood off of the mask.
"Come on Soap, we still have to clear the rest of the compound." The first man said his deep British timber filling the room. The man turned, his tattered hood swaying with motion. The shorter man follows right on his heels.
The scythe on the larger man's back caught his eye. Was this death incarnate, did he finally come to collect him for his sins?
"Ey whatever ye say Ghost."
Ghost, this was the legendary Ghost. He was just as terrifying as he was told, honestly, Nozar was surprised he was still breathing.
He followed them through the rest of the compound. He knows he should kill them, but there was something sacrilegious about seeing the Ghost and whoever his partner was in action.
They were so fluid with their movements. They fit together like a puzzle and work like a well-oiled machine. They didn't need to speak to communicate, just a glance would be enough.
What was perhaps the most unsettling was that they were joking as they went, shitty jokes at that. Soap cleared rooms quicker than what should be possible, Ghost seemed to know where people were before they even moved. Together they were unstoppable.
As they finished cleaning the compound, Ghost suddenly turned, shooting him directly between the eyes. "Maybe don't follow the soldiers killing everyone." Soap quipped.
~
Sara wasn't quite sure how she got here, but here she was. She was shooting at people who didn't seem to exist. Her allies were being killed left and right, and they didn't even know what was attacking them. Her General called for a retreat, she ran like her life depended on it, which it did.
She ducked behind cover and watched as more of the soldiers got picked off. A moment later, a blur of movement caught her eye. She looked over but whatever it was it was already gone.
She watched helplessly as more and more of her allies were picked off. They were all out of ammo now stuck hiding in buildings in hopes to catch their attacks off guard when they came to sweep the houses.
Screams from the house over caught her attention, she peeked out a window hoping to see what was going on. Death itself walked past the window, scythe and all, she ducked back down before she could get spotted. Only a minute later, she heard the front door of the house she was in slam open.
Gunshots followed before all noise ceased. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. The door to the room she was in suddenly slammed open, and she lunged with her knife. She was unceremoniously slammed onto her back with a knife to her throat. When she opened her eyes, she was face to face with a red skull and blue eyes surrounded by black.
"Lt. we need someone to interrogate ey well, we got one." The man said voice lilted and unlike anything she had heard before. "Come on let's go, ye are coming with us." She was unceremoniously hoisted to her feet and pushed out of the room. She looked up to watch where she was going, only to be at eye level with a bulletproof vest.
Looking up far further than she was expecting she made eye contact with the figure she saw in the other house. Death incarnate with the skull, hood, and all. The eyes seemed to stare into her soul with an intensity she didn't know existed, The same as the other man they were surrounded by black. However, unlike the other man, instead of two blue eyes, one was brown, the other crystal going on electric blue.
"Let go Sergeant." The man sounded as if he gurgled rocks, it sent a shiver down her spine. She was brought outside and walked into the woods. They walked for a while until they got to a road and pushed her into a waiting car.
The Sergeant sat next to her in the back as the other man drove, she kept quiet, not willing to risk getting killed. "Bravo 0-7 to Watcher 1, the town is clear, and we have one for questioning." Death says into his coms, she can't hear the response, but he answers.
"Copy heading there now Ghost out." With that the man directs his attention to the Sergeant next to her, "You heard her, when we get to the compound you set it up I'll get Price." The man next to her shifts slightly and responds, "Copy Lt." With that response, the car falls back into silence.
She is dragged from the car and put in a dark room when they stop. The Sergeant tells her to sit on the chair in the middle of the room, she does without complaint. 5 minutes pass before the door opens to reveal Ghost and who she guesses is Price.
Price takes the Sergeant's place at her side, the Sergeant then moves in front of her. He reaches up and takes off the mask and balaclava. There is black paint smudged to below his cheekbones. He meets her eyes before speaking, "What's er name?"
"Sara." She answers without pause, she can answer their question.
"Where is your army getting weapons from?" He asks, seemingly relieved she was answering without a fight. She had no intention to put up a fight, she didn't want to be in that army in the first place.
"I don't know, they don't tell us anything. They point we shoot, if not you're killed."
The Sergeant didn't look fazed; he's probably heard it a million times before, and he'll hear it a million more. "What's er army's next target?" That is a question she can answer.
"Mexican special forces, I don't know why. It's also halfway around the world, but." She makes a vague shrugging motion. "You can't logic with power-hungry dictators." She tells the men around her.
The Sergeant shifts noticeably, "Why Alejandro's men?" He asks the room at large in confusion, not expecting an answer.
She's surprised these men know who she's talking about, Ghost steps up, and she shifts nervously in her seat. "You make your distaste for the Army clear, but why did you join?"
"My family needed the money. I didn't have another choice, it was this or starve." She answers death, hoping quite foolishly to be spared.
The man tilts his head slightly before backing up again, taking a spot next to the Sergeant. "Where is your base of operations?" The Sergeant asks, and she requests a map before pointing out the exact location of the group.
"What about your family?" Presumably, Price asks, she meets his eyes and chokes out an answer, "Dead, the army killed them."
Price doesn't say anything for a long moment, watching her carefully, "Are you willing to help us kill them?" He asks softly. She doesn't need to think long before agreeing.
When the time comes she fights alongside Ghost and who she now knows is Soap, she kills her former allies without a second thought. When suddenly someone comes out of nowhere and slices at Ghost's face. She tries to help, but Soap is faster, killing the man brutally. She goes to check on Ghost only to see his skull mask shattered and balaclava cut off.
Half his face is showing, and the hard skull is broken off blocking his eyes, the growl he lets out borders on animalistic. He reached up and tore the mask off, the first thought she has is 'he's blond' closely followed by 'OH SHIT HE'S BLEEDING'.
There's a slash going from the top right side of his nose to his jaw. It's bleeding profusely. Ghost tears his way through the rest of the soldiers almost single-handedly, when the fight is over Soap appears at his side grabbing the Lieutenant's face in his hands.
"Simon you good?" He asks worriedly, "I'm OK Johnny, just stop the bleeding so we can get out of here."
After the bleeding stops Soap hands him his own balaclava, Ghost quickly puts it on before relaxing into Soap's side while they wait for exfil.