Red Rooms I Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader

A distant spark

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Next morning had to come eventually.

At 6 AM, Ghost woke up to you already halfway dressed and putting in your earrings. It was still dark outside so he could only see your silhouette rushing to gather all your belongings.

“Morning” you whispered his way. A faint smile dressed your lips, he could see that much too.

“You leavin’?” his tone was raspy from having just woken up but he did a pretty good job at hiding the disappointment that he felt when he saw you getting ready.

“Our kids, Simon,” You giggled as you put on your coat and took a few steps towards his shirtless figure lying still in bed, “…Can’t leave all the work to Grace.”

You leaned over him and hesitated.

Keeping eye-contact, Ghost waited and let you decide. He wouldn’t mind either way, he could forget about whatever did or did not occur the night before. Act like it didn’t happen. He’s gotten very good at storing these things away by now.

“Fuck it,” you whispered hastily before lowering yourself and placing a gentle kiss on his lips, one that did not ask for anything more. Ghost closed his eyes and enjoyed that last bit of warmth, before you disappeared and left out his door.

He stared at the concrete ceiling, listening to the distant tip-tapping of your heels walk down his staircase until it clung off. Turning over to rest on your side of the bed, sleep took him in again rather quickly.

<<<

“Why to the bloody playground…We own two loft apartments that should be enough playground for a pair of toddlers,” Simon grunted as he closed the buttons of Archy’s green coat. Yes; the twins and him wore the green dufflecoat combo, making you feel left out in your brown trench.

“Because it does not hurt to explore and socialize a bit, I’m not only talking about our babies.” You winked at him as you got the keys. He rolled his eyes and helped Marla with her coat.

It took long enough to convince Simon to visit the playground, but eventually he gave in. You compromised on half an hour before heading back as he wasn’t feeling too social that day, let alone have his kids run around in some public park where there could be anyone.

***

“Look at her…Scheming something, that one…” Ghost said as he squinted his eyes to figure out what Marla’s up to in the distance. She was kneeling over some dirt, picking up rocks and sticks. Archy was sitting in the sandbox, drawing circles absentmindedly.

“She’s playing, Simon.” You smiled as you sat next to him on the bench, enjoying the breezy autumn day.

“Yeah, playing. Havin the time of their lives…” he scoffed. He wasn’t wrong, the playground was quite…Boring. It was the first time that you visited one with your twins so you expected it to be naturally exciting. But there were no swings, no slides and nothing to climb. Just a small sandbox, a spinner which Ghost deemed as “too dangerous for ‘em” and a bunch of trees. You already took a mental note that next time you’ll choose a better one to visit.

He looked around and saw a group of parents with their children approaching.

“Alright, should probably head back-“

“Hello! Nice day!” you already greeted the newcomers, handing out friendly smiles as you wanted to socialize with other parents. It’s been nearly 3 years without knowing any other families or couples your age, you felt lonely. And whilst Simon sure was a great father, he wasn’t really what you’d consider a picture book father. He did things his own way. Fortunately, his own way worked just fine and he was trying, but you craved the exchange with other mothers. Some tacky family dinner with the kids playing in the back, walking down the street with a whole bunch of strollers, something. That’s what all the other parents would do, you thought.