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Soap’s head spun even as he finally stopped tumbling. He groaned in pain. His legs burned, and everything ached. What was- the bike? Simon’s bike.
Ghost had let Soap take his new motorcycle out for a ride, and he just fucking wrecked it.
“Oh God. Oh, fuck,” Soap whispered, scrambling up to his feet and rushing toward the bike. He couldn’t see it too well in the dark, but he knew it was damaged.
He paced back and forth on the side of the highway, hands on his helmet. He had to call Simon. He deserved to know, but how was Soap supposed to tell him he had just wrecked his brand-new motorcycle? Simon had only been able to ride it once.
He leaned against the telephone pole, right by the bike, and from the looks of it, when he fell, the bike slid into the pole. He was thankful that he hadn’t hit that pole.
His hands trembled as he called Ghost. Each ring made his chest tighter.
"Hello?" despite the time, Ghost sounded wide awake, and Soap could hear the frown in his voice.
"Hey, Simonnn! How, uh, how are you? " He knew his voice was higher than usual, but he was nervous. How was he supposed to tell Ghost?
"I'm... alive. It's 2 in the morning, Johnny. Where are you, love? I can hear cars.”
Soap chuckled nervously, and he knew Ghost heard by the sharp inhale.
"Uhm. Y’know, just, haha, out uhm. Oh steamin’ Jesus-“The adrenaline was wearing off, and holy shit, road burn does not feel good.
"Johnny? Tell me what's going on." Ghost demanded. In the background was the sound of a blanket and keys rustling, but Soap was too focused on ignoring the pain to notice.
"I uhm- I fuck- I- I'm sorry uhm I.. can- are you- God, I can't fucking talk.” The phone shook in his hands. He shivered with a sudden chill and felt sweat pouring down his neck.
"Johnny. Focus." Ghost barked, worry seeping into his tone.
"Are you near A480? I fucking-fuck! She's totaled, man! shiittt mate! God, I'm such a dumbass!” his voice cracked, and he could feel the tears threatening to spill.
"You solid? Tell me you're alright, Sergeant." Ghost ordered in his “Lieutenant” voice.
Soap could only manage a weak “Solid.”
"Stay right there. You're okay,” Ghost soothed, “I’m on my way, okay? You’re alright.”
Soap threw his head back, staring up at the stars as he waited for Ghost. It felt like time passed too quickly, yet too slow at the same time. His legs felt like they were on fire. He fidgeted with the new rips in his jeans. He only had his helmet and his leather jacket on because he didn’t think he would actually wreck. Oh, how he regretted that decision.
Soap raised his head at the familiar sound of a motorcycle approaching. More specifically, his own bike.
Ghost was hauling ass towards him. Soap could only watch as Ghost jumped off the bike, flipping the kickstand down before rushing toward Soap.
“Please tell me you’re okay,” Ghost urged as he flicked his visor up.
Soap paced a few times before the reality of what he had done punched him in the gut, and he was crouching down with his head in his hands.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay!” Ghost repeated, crouching down next to him and grabbing his hands. Ghost squeezed Soap’s hands in an attempt to get his attention. He could see Soap shaking.
“Johnny! Johnny! It means nothing to me!” he stressed, shaking the man’s hands slightly, “It means nothing!”
Ghost flicked Soap’s visor up and was met with the sight of Soap’s teary face.
“Hey, hey, it means nothing to me,” he repeated. Ghost would say it as many times as he needed to get it into Soap’s head that he didn’t care about the bike.
“Are you okay?” Ghost tried again. Soap only nodded.
“Do you promise?” Ghost moved his hands to Soap’s shoulders, checking him for injuries, and Soap nodded again.
“Then that’s all I care about!” Ghost said softly, “I don’t care about that,” He gestured to his bike, “It means nothing to me. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters to me.”
“T-the bike,” Soap stressed.
“Johnny,” Ghost said firmly, removing the younger man’s helmet so he could see his face, “I will say it a thousand times over; it means nothing to me. I can get another bike, but I can’t get another you ,” he urged, gently swiping away Soap’s tears. If the fabric of Ghost’s gloves was rough on Soap’s skin, he didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry,” Soap whispered, voice shaking as much as his body.
“I know, I know,” Ghost cooed, “I don’t give a shit about the bike. So stop worrying about it,” he took Soap’s hand in his again, intertwining their gloved fingers, “Let’s get you home. are you good to ride, or do you want to be my backpack?” he hoped his teasing tone would relieve the scot’s nerves, “We can get the bike in the morning. I want to get you home first,” he answered soap’s rebuttal before the man could even say it.
“Y-you drive. believe I’m a bit too shaky for that right now, Lt,” Soap whispered. Ghost nodded and got on Soap’s bike. He extended his hand out to Soap in case he needed help.
“You good?” Soap was startled when he heard Ghost's voice come through his helmet.
“Hell’s fuckin’ bells! When did we get comms?” Soap rasped.
“I actually put them in today. I was planning on showing you when we went on a ride tomorrow, but well... You know,” Ghost waved his hand, gesturing to their situation. Soap chuckled.
“Glad I figured it out before I said something silly,” Soap joked, starting to calm down just a bit. He wrapped his arms around Ghost’s waist and rested his head against Ghost’s back. Soap took a deep breath as the bike roared to life, and they took off. He let Ghost’s presence calm him.
“Si, I’m really-”
“Shut up,” Ghost interjected, “I don’t want to hear another ‘I’m sorry’ out of you,” he chided. Soap laughed softly and squeezed him tighter.
“Thank you,” Soap said softly, and Ghost reached down to place his hand over Soap’s, squeezing softly.
He might have fucked up Ghost’s bike (and his own leg), but Ghost wasn’t mad at him. Not in the slightest. Ghost didn’t even spare the bike a glance when he got there. His only focus was Soap. And that’s why Soap loved him.
Soap gasped at the realization.
“What’s wrong? What is it?” Ghost squeezed his hands again.
“I fucking love you,” Soap whispered before he could stop himself.
“Well, I think it's pretty obvious that I fucking love you too, Johnny,” Ghost chuckled.
“Fair. I did manage to wreck your bike and somehow live to tell the tale,” he teased.
“That you did, Johnny,” Ghost said fondly, “That you did.”