Achroous| a Simon 'Ghost' Riley fanfiction

Chapter IX

I apologize, but I realized the latest chapter I posted wasn't fitting the story, or at least not yet, so let's just act like nothing happened.

Evelynn woke up that morning excitedly. Her classes that day went nicely, just like every single day since she came back home. Her mind was still flying back to the base sometimes, making her lose focus.

She remembered the way she felt while working with them. Her life was, for the very first time, exciting and interesting, escaping the monotony. The mixture of fear and excitement she experienced the day she met Il Diavolo again was something she could never forget.

Unfortunately, she could not tell anyone about her little adventure. Instead, she had to lie to her friends that she went to visit her parents and had no signal. Of course, they found it odd. Evelynn would always announce something similar, especially if that meant she was going to lose a few days of courses, but they didn't question it any further.

Lately, though, her mind have been  stuffed with Simon's image. As much as she tried to, she couldn't get him out of her head.

His deep, blue eyes were burning into her brain, along with his thick accent and his siluette. He towered her like a mountain the first time she met him. His shoulders were wide, muscular, he looked like he could hold the world on his back.

And maybe he did.

She didn't know anything about him besides his name, so he could be capable of anything. And that made her remember again about the Task Force.

It was like a vicious circle with no end. A circle that only gave her a break while she was working, as she focused on multiple things at once.

She decided to wear her cammo pants again for the first time since she came back, styling them with a black cropped top and a pair of combat boots, this time on her size.

It was a warm spring day, offering her a great weather for her outfit, although in the café was warm anyway, no matter what was going on outside.

She was hopping Simon would appear again today and order her large Americano, and maybe this time he decided to drink it inside. Maybe she could exchange some words with him.

Hours passed, and there was no sight of him, hours passed and she was supposed to close in a short time.

She lost hope in seeing him again that evening.

She was already cleaning around when the door opened behind him, the bell ringing at the same time. The sound caught her attention, making her turn her head, only for a bright smile to be born on her now lightened face.

"Welcome back here, sir."

"Just call me Simon, I'm not much older than you anyway." He said, his thick accent filling the entire room.

He was finally there. She couldn't explain it, but his appearance made her heart pound against her chest, her while body overflowing with joy.

"A large Americano?" She asked, as she walked back behind the counter, as ahe picked up the cup.

"Certainly. I like your pants by the way."

"Hm? Thank you. A friend gave them to me. They are a little baggy, but nothing a belt can't fix."

He just shrugged, standing in front of her, watching her carefully preparing his drink.

"I think they fit you pretty well. Are they from an actual military uniform?"

"Yes sir. He also gave me a jacket. He is in the military, unfortunately we don't talk often. In fact, I haven't heard from him in months, but I assume he's just very busy. I hope he's alright."

The man stood speechless for a moment. He knew the girl got along with him, somehow, while she helped them, didn't expect her to still think of him, as Ghost, anymore.

"I'm sure he is." He finally said, after a moment of silence, in which he felt bad for not visiting or talking to her earlier.

She looked at him for a second, before writing his name on the cup and handing it to him.

"Unfortunately we're closing soon so you'll have to take it on a go." She said, before starting to clean after herself.

"Is waiting until you close so I can walk you home an option?"

She smiled brightly, feeling her cheeks catching a light tint of pink at his words. She felt her stomach tightening, like she used to feel when she was back in highschool. She didn't realize how interested she was into this man until she heard that question.

"You want to walk me home?"

"Of course I do. It's late anyway, and walking alone in the dark is quote dangerous, don't you think?"

Evelynn chuckled lightly at his question, gently shaking her head. The sound, and the sight of her smile made Simon's heart skip a beat. He didn't know he was the kind of man that would feel such things for a woman.

He didn't know love was an emotional he could even feel, in the first place. His whole life he lived with sorrow and rage, anger and misery. Now seeing there was a person he would show his face to and trusting them with it was something new, something he wasn't used to.

"I can take care of myself, but I will happily accept your offer, Simon." She said, as she opened her purse, showing it to him, before closing it back.

"Should I ask why you have a knife in your purse?"

"It's a dagger actually."

"I know it's a dagger, girly. I have a bunch myself. But that doesn't answer my question."

"It's because I can take care of myself." Shed say with a proud smile on face.

"Hmm you mean you walk around with a dagger so your attacker can use your own weapon against you?" He asked, letting out a chuckle.

"Oh now you're just being mean. Let's get going though."

He just nodded and walked out the café with her, waiting for her to lock the door. He knew where she lived, but walking all by himself in that direction would probably creep her out.

"So...why did you get an Americano at this late hour? You're aware you won't be able to sleep at night, right?"

"Oh, I don't sleep, that's not my thing."

"But you need to."

"Do I really?"

"What do you mean! Of course you do!"

He chuckled lightly, as he sipped from his coffee. She looked up at him, pulling her eyebrows together at the sight.

"One evening, I won't serve you so you can enjoy some sleeping."

"I stay up with or without coffee, dear."

She shook her head in disbelief, letting her hand on her chest, exaggerating a disappointed look. Simon couldn't help himself but let out a chuckle at her reaction.

"You really are something else."

"Maybe. Also, I don't think we ever met properly. My name is Evelynn." She said, looking up to him.

"Simon, but you already knew that. It's a pleasure to know you Evelynn."

"The feeling is mutual, Simon. Oh! I live here." She said, as she stopped walking.

They both stopped in front of an apartment building, one that Simon knew too well. He wished to come to it multiple times to pay her a visit, but never got the courage to do so.

"Thank you for walking me home Simon."

"No worries. Good night, Evelynn."

"Night night. See you tomorrow."

He nodded.

"See you tomorrow."