The Crow & The Ghost: A Dystopian AU Simon Ghost Riley x Reader

Chapter Eleven: A Question Without Answer

"Trouble in paradise?" Kieran asks when he sees your face at lunch. You drop your salad container onto the table and drop yourself into the seat soon after.
"Like you wouldn't believe," You grumble, opening up the container and dousing the salad with dressing. You close the container, shake it vigorously, then slam it on the table and open it again, this time digging your fork in.
Kieran watches you in silence the whole time, a look of vague disgust on his face.
"What?" You snap.
Kieran gives you a frown. "I've never seen you so worked up as I have in the last week. I already thought Ghost was scary, but now—"
"I don't want to talk about Ghost." You say, lacing his name with your venom.
Kieran holds his hands up in a tiny surrender, his index finger pinning his fork to his palm. "All right, let's talk about something else."
You let out a sigh, shoving more lettuce into your mouth. "I'm sorry," You say after chewing. "Everyday Riley puts me on a rollercoaster ride with this case. I'm starting to get a bit sick of it."
"Ah," Kieran says in understanding, and then his face twists into a smile. "Finally starting to miss your old partner, eh?"
You give him a glare from the top of your eyes, your head lowered to your food. "I always miss you."
"You know, between Ghost and I, I may not have the fatter ass, but I do have the bigger heart."
"That's disgusting."
"Says the girl who let Soap fuck her raw."
You drop your fork. You stare at your salad for a moment, your heart racing. You swallow the food in your mouth and straighten, looking up at Kieran. You aren't sure what expression you're expecting him to wear, but it's not the devilish grin.
"Soap may have let it slip," Kieran said, his smile absolutely triumphant. "When I asked him how you were after your mission at the elementary school. It was an innocent question—I was genuinely wondering, because I was worried about you. But the look on his face—"
"Are you mad at me?" You ask, your voice a bit pathetic.
Kieran's eyes snap to yours, his grin faltering. "A little." He admits. "But I can see why you didn't say anything. And Soap told me shit has already ended between you two."
You wince. "Nothing ever really started. It just—"
"Happened?" Kieran finishes for you. You shrug, and then he shrugs back. "I don't care, Crow. We're all adults. You can fuck whoever you want, and so can Soap, and so can I. I'm only upset that you didn't feel like you could tell me."
"It's not that I felt like I couldn't tell you," You say, reaching over the table to put your hand on his arm. "I just—I'm overwhelmed. It's not an excuse."
Kieran puts his hand over your hand. "I'm not mad," He says, a smile tugging on his lips. "Just disappointed."
"Ugh, what are you, my father?" You scowl.
Kieran squeezes your hand. "Daddy dearest," He says in a sing-song voice. You let out a noise of disgust and pull your hand away, picking up your fork again.
You start stabbing your lettuce, feeling your cheeks get hot. "I'm not trying to keep secrets from you," You say. "Things are just fucking weird. I need time to process this shitstorm."
"I get it." Kieran says. "Just don't... don't forget about me, okay?"
You pause again, meeting his eyes. This time when you reach for him, you grab his hand. You squeeze it hard. "You are my best friend, Kieran. I'll never forget about you. Do not ever worry about that."
He gives you a small smile. "All right." You let his hand go and lift more salad to your mouth.
"Can we talk about something fun?" You ask.
Kieran's eyes light up. "Oh, yes. We're already talking about Soap, so I might as well tell you—"
"Please, tell the both of us. I'd love to hear it." A familiar Scottish accent interrupts Kieran as Soap's body drops down onto the chair next to him.
Kieran's face instantly turns redder than you've ever seen it.
Soap catches a glimpse of Kieran's suddenly meek expression and smiles wider, his brown eyes glittering. "Don't get shy now, Captain Corr."
You throw a napkin at Soap. "Come on, Soap. Don't torture him."
Soap turns his gaze towards you. "Like you're not the expert in torture, Lieutenant Crow."
"Fuck off."
"There's my girl."
Kieran buries his face in his hands, shaking his head slowly. "I think I've descended into my own personal hell."
You swallow hard and suddenly close your salad container. Soap furrows his brow slightly and Kieran peeks at you through his fingers, also furrowing his brow.
"I actually have to get going," You say, though you have absolutely fucking nowhere to go. You just need to get away from Soap if he's going to make innuendos at you in front of Kieran's face. Besides, Kieran would probably appreciate a one-on-one conversation with the Captain, anyway. "I'll text you, Kieran."
"Okay." He says, a glimmer of confusion in his voice.
"Bye, Crow girl." Soap taunts as you stand up.
You leave without another word, unsure exactly of where you're going, but you make sure that you walk out of the cafeteria like you have a purpose.
You don't want to hurt Kieran's feelings again anytime soon.