Red Rooms I Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader

Birthdays, he never liked them

It took Ghost a long time to open up about his birthday. You’d ask him plenty of times but he never even bothered to celebrate it let alone share the date which you would simply accept until the kids were able to talk - and notice that everyone has a birthday - So why not their dad?

So eventually he had to give in.

2 November.

Needless to say that he didn't want to make a big thing out of it. For the kids’ sake he’d agree on a simple brunch once. Once.  He didn’t even want any gifts which you found fair enough since it was hard to think of what a Riley could wish for anyways.

This birthday though, you had tried something different.

"What the---"

"Come here, L.T.!"

Ghost, who was wearing a loose shirt and his sweatpants only, found himself in the tight embrace of his Scottish teammate. He looked straight ahead into Price’s eyes and did not return the hug as he still had to register what was actually happening.

"Good to see you, Simon. Happy Birthday," the captain said with a smug smile as he passed Ghost who stood still and let them all inside his apartment - too baffled to intervene.

"You've got yourself a nice place, L.T.! Happy Birthday!" Gaz admired the loft apartment as he handed Ghost a bottle of  bourbon and was quick to shake your hand and thank you for the invitation before leaving to hang up his jacket.

Wait…The invitation?

"You invited them...?"

His voice was as bitter as it sounded somewhat touched.

"Happy birthday, Simon...?" You whispered insecurely, unsure if you had crossed a line by chatting up Soap and ask if they would like to come for dinner on this special day.

He did feel… Something.

He couldn’t name it just yet.

His cold gaze stared down at you before he already heard the scottish banter coming from the living area where the twins were playing. Here we go.

Soap was kneeling in front of Archie and introduced himself and the rest of the team to the little boy sitting on a massive, fluffy carpet. Archie was the usual shy boy and had his big, round eyes stare at all the strange men and try to hide behind his toys.

“…,Ye sure got his eyes, little man!”

Ghost was still too stunned to speak. Unsure how to feel about this. He trusted the team with his life and they all knew him well by now - even the face beneath that mask wasn't a mistery to them anymore. But still. Seeing his two worlds collide like that – he was not prepared.

"Foap!" Archy yelped and pointed at the mohawk with a wide smile eventually.

Well, that was quick; Ghost thought to himself.

The Scot sent a cheeky wink Archie’s way and held up his hand for what seemed to be an attempted high-five. A gesture the little 5-year old did not quite understand just yet.

"So ye already know me?!" The Scot laughed and awkwardly withdrew his hand as Archie would not join in on the high-five and just give his father a scared look.

"He does, Soap." Ghost cleared his throat and carried up his little sunshine, carefully wiping some crumbs off the corners of Archie’s mouth and going through his blonde hair.