Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader

Forty-Six

You stood there frozen, your fingers tightly closed around the gun.

Your mind did not want to accept what your body made clearer than anything else.

Gaz was right.

You could barely hear.

The feel of your own blood on your (S/C) skin was like glue. It almost felt like it wanted to crawl back into you, like it was alive.

The wind chased around your right ear, loud, alive, whistling.

But the left ear?

All silent. So infinitely dead silent.

Only a penetrating ringing filled your head. You had thought it was due to adrenaline or perhaps just a figment of your imagination due to shock.

But no, it was there. And it probably wouldn't go away ever again.

"Steamin' bloody shit...", you whispered with bated breath.

Your own voice sounded muffled, as if you were talking to yourself underwater. As if a piece of cotton was stuck inside.

At the same time it hurt to listen.

As you moved your face a sharp pain chased through the entire side, up your temple and all the way up to your brain. It felt like knifes jabbed into it.

But even if that proved to be a disadvantage, it was now too late to turn back.

One of the vehicles was directly in front of you, so close that you could see a fight.

A giant with a skull on his face appeared in the distance, followed by a smaller man with a mohawk.

They seemed to be under fire.

At least Soap's facial expression gave away that he wasn't all too fond of the situation at hand.

Ghost was as unmoved as always as he turned on his heel and fired a row towards the vehicle.

Some narcos his behind the car doors. It was safe to say that it was armoured.

"100 to Ghost, we have visual contact with you, what's the situation?", you asked over coms, holding the loudspeaker to your right ear to be able to hear.

A cracking sound filled your head. It felt like fingernails were being scratched across the back of your head.

"Soap here, we're under attack!", your brother yelled, audibly busy with other issues.

"Is Alejandro with you?"

"Negative, he's after the other car.", Ghost replied. "We hold them back, can you aid him?"

"Do you had a status on him?", your legs already started moving, but Gaz grabbed you by the collar.

In a persistent manner he pulled you back with such force and harshness that it felt like he took it personal.

A soft sound of surprise escaped you.

"Lieutenant, there's no way we can let you go on like this.", he argued with some kind of reproach in his eyes. "We should retreat."

Your eyebrows drew together.

"I don't have time for you to babysit me.", you shook his hands off.

"You're wounded!"

"And I might get shot. But that's the risk of the job, Gaz. I can't afford to turn my back on this mission just because of a personal issue. I'll push."

"I don't agree."

"Then don't. You're free to act independent. But remember, if you hinder me in my work, you'll be made responsible.", with a warning look in your eyes, you took a step to the side to check what his standing point was now.

His eyes followed you.

His body did not.

With a nod of your head you acknowledged that he had made his decision and began to move towards the fight.

Behind you, he moved too. But this time he did not follow you. Instead, he seemed to want to join Soap and Ghost.

"Ghost, this is 100.", you called over coms as your eyes searched for a way to quickly follow the second car. "Gaz will join your forces. I'm in pursuit of Alejandro."

"Affirmative, 100.", Ghost confirmed. "The vehicle will not be captured. Too many enemies."

"Do we have a way to move quickly?"

"We do.", Price's voice suddenly answered.

All of a sudden, a vehicle appeared from the dark.

A cloud of dust wrapped it up as it approached with such speed that you expected it to hit you flat.

Rudi sat behind the wheel while Price occupied the passenger seat. He had a cigar between his teeth.

The two of you made eye contact.

He nodded.

You knew exactly what the captain expected you to do.

Without slowing down, Rudi chased past you.

Your reflexes kicked in.

Quickly, you pulled out your hook and secured yourself on the edge of the trucks loading ramp.

The speed and force of it threw you off your feet, but you managed to jump up and grab one of the security poles for hold.

Grunting, you pulled yourself up to safety.

"You broken, 100?", Price asked.

Breathing heavily, you let your back fall against the window through which he was able to watch you and touched your damaged ear once again.

You still couldn't believe that it had actually happened.

For the very first time in years and ever since you had joined the military, your body had taken active damage.

Permanent one as well.

The last time this had happened, your mother's boyfriend had kicked you down the stairs.

You had broken your hand back then while landing on the concrete floor of the basement.

Ever since then you've had a slightly bend index finger.

But not a single injury since then.

"Fuck...", you groaned as both realisation and exhaustion washed over you.

"100?", Price glanced over his shoulder to take a look at you.

A bitter smirk appeared on your lips.

With closed eyes you let your head fall back against the window to feel the vibration chase through your brain.

"I'm honest.", captain, you wiped some sweat from your forehead. "I'm not sure."

"You're bleeding."

"I know. Might be deaf too."

For a moment his bright blue eyes lingered on the bloody side of your face.

"Will it keep you from taking a clear shot?", he asked, calm.

"No, Captain.", you assured and took a look at your dust covered rifle. "Not at all."