Red Rooms I Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader

Another Chance at Life

Lil info: Some descriptions of torture but not too graphic yall know im too soft ᕕ( ཀ ʖ̯ ཀ)ᕗ also fluff afterwards cuz we deserve it

♡♡♡

~
"Simon, what happened?"

„Baby, I'm so sorry,..."

"..., Come on...Let's... Let's get you to the bathroom,... Oh god,..."

"Let me help you..."

~

Warm water running along his back pulled him out of his daze, he couldn't fully remember the past...What was it? Ten minutes? Twenty?

It took him some time to register that you're speaking to him still.

"...,What happened to you?"

He heard you sobbing from behind. Felt your delicate hands gently wiping his bruised back. Washing it.

Ghost swallowed deeply and looked down his bare body before looking right back up and face the tiles, clenching his jaw whilst trying to keep it all together and just focus on your gentle hands. He felt uneasy about the touch, but tried to calm himself by remembering that it's you.

He is home. He can trust you. It's all over.

"S-so many..."

You sniffled as you let the water run over the new scars on his back. They were all a burning, bright red. Running through faded ones too; His pale back now looked absolutely destroyed if it didn't already before.

He twitched as your hand asked for permission to turn him around by gently resting on his ribs.

Ghost turned towards you and could see the terror in your eyes as you saw the stitched wound running along his groin, ending just above his thigh. His whole stomach turned at the sight. His body wanted to flee, hide himself from you. You shouldn't be seeing this, nobody should.

As much as the sight shocked you, it did not stop you from taking care of his body and gently wiping along his skin.

Though you did not ask any further questions after seeing the toll his last mission had taken on him.

*

The sun was slowly rising once you two reached the bed. It was also at that point, that he would start answering your questions quietly. With his lips pressed against your forehead and his hand on the back of your neck.

"..., whole time...My mind was occupied with you & the kids...Thought I'll never see you again...," he shut his eyes to prevent the tears from falling and stroked his nose along your skin to comfort himself.

"..., that was the worst torture; not knowing if I'll ever see you again. All that's fuckin' left for me..."

He has been tortured before in all the twisted, brutal ways. It did not make this particular time any easier, but he remembers having to endure much worse treatments. What made this one so different was knowing that his children are waiting for him. His two jolly angels asking you every day when their father will finally return. Picturing you receiving the message from fuck-knows-who and having to tell them that he won't be making it home this time.

Not seeing his own fucking kids grow up.

He cried for days once he woke up to the bright hospital lights and Price by his side. He didn't give a fuck, it's not like he could stop his body's natural reaction to knowing that he has been rescued. That he's gotten another chance at life.

Crying because he will indeed be seeing his family again.

He won't leave them behind.

Your tears wouldn't stop burning along your cheeks as you squeezed yourself more into him. You couldn't believe a single word he had just said.

Torture? Everything was a trap?

"You're here now, Simon...We're here..."

He nodded as he felt your shaky hands run along his sides carefully, sensing that you're not sure about where you're even allowed to touch him.

" Sure am...," he cleared his throat once he felt a lump forming.

You sniffled before looking back up and out the window next to you. The way the sun was rising as if nothing had happened. As if you weren't just reunited with the traumatized shell of Simon Riley. As if it's just going to be a normal day.

"Received a medical discharge, they won't have me back on the field any time soon..."

Teary eyes switched over to lock with his half-lidded ones.

"..., I'm so sorry, Simon..."

The sun slowly peeked over the tall buildings and started to fill the apartment with warm light.

He leaned in for a gentle, shy kiss.

It felt just as warm.

You gave him another one.

Followed by another one.

"You're safe here," you murred past his cheek.

"...I know," he replied before closing his eyes again and receiving as many tokens of affection as he could get in this short, shared morning moment. Letting you caress him completely. Counting the kisses you placed along his chest. Feeling how gentle your fingers can stroke along his arms and neck.

Allowing himself to drown in your touch; Allowing himself to rest in your familiar embrace.