Per Aspera Ad Inferi - Ghost x fem reader

VI. Ritual

"Can't you see that I'm a little busy here!" I exclaimed while getting bombarded with requests and complaints from one angry crew member. "Please, just fix the cables, y/n. Time is running out." The man says and leaves. "But, can't you- ah, son of a bitch." I cursed to myself as I walked over to the cables and started untangling them. I swear these were in order yesterday. I thought to myself. Why do I have to do this shit when we have AT LEAST ten other people who could do the same thing?! "Hey, y/n could you-" Whoever it was, I didn't even want to look at them. "IN A MINUTE!" I screamed in frustration.

They went quiet, but that's when I realised who it was. "Phantom, I'm so sorry." I sat there, eyes wide in shock and embarrassment. "No, it's okay." He hushed sweetly. "You just scared the shit out of me, but that's alright. What's going on?" He asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. He looked at me, seeming very concerned. "Everyone is asking me to do all these things at once, and it's stressing me out." I confessed as Phantom started rubbing my shoulder. "It's okay, don't worry. I know it's stressful, but you're doing so well for a new recruit." He reassured and smiled, his head titled. "I just can't help but feel like my brother would have done a better job." I sulked.

Phantom froze. "No... no, don't think like that. Don't be so hard on yourself, y/n, please." He bent down to my level. He was now on the floor squatting like a frog. It would have been funny if I wasn't busy self-pitying. "Maybe it's time for you to take a break." He said sweetly, now rubbing my back. "But they need me, Phantom. I can't just go!" I stressed. "I will make some arrangements. Just go backstage and relax while I make a phone call, okay?" He seemed stern for a second. "Thank you so much, Phantom. I owe you!" I exclaimed happily as I went backstage. No one else was there, so I just sat down on a red sofa and went on my phone.

"I thought I told you to check the lights, kid." A male voice said sternly. Not this shit again. "You might've, but that's not my area of expertise, making it... not my responsibility." I said passive aggressively while still looking at my phone. "So you're just slacking off, expecting all of us to do the work for you, little girl?" The asshole went on yapping. "With all due respect, sir," I spat, "I have done my job, so I'm taking a break. And before you ask: yes, I have permission. Now kindly piss off." I dismissed, indifferent. "Ugh, kids." The man gritted his teeth and walked off, mumbling profanities. I'd say that went well, but now I probably have a nasty reputation with the crew. At least Ghost likes me. I smirked, content with myself. I went back to relaxing, trying to shrug off the event that had just occurred.

"Y/n? Are you- Ah, there you are." I heard Phantom say. I looked up from my phone and smiled. "Hi, Phantom! Everything alright?" He looked at me, his body language was telling me that he was conflicted. "I heard about what happened back here with that crew guy." Oh fuck. "Yes...?" I answered hesitantly. "What did you say that pissed him off so bad?" I figured there was a chance he would be mad at me, but I didn't think I was wrong for what I said, so I decided to be truthful. "I basically told him that I was done with my work today and was taking a break. He wouldn't get off my case, so I told him to piss off..." I said, nervously waiting for a reply. "You did?!" Phantom was hard to read, mostly because of the mask. I had no idea if he was mad or surprised. Maybe both.

"...yes." I answered, cowering a little under his tall frame. "Hahaha, no way!" I sighed in relief at Phantom's reaction. "So I wasn't out of line?" I grimaced. "No! I mean, well, maybe, but that doesn't matter! That old fart deserved it." He kept laughing, so I laughed along with him. We looked into each others eyes for a moment. The tension was unbearable but also oddly comfortable. "You're a devil, you know?" He remarked, smirking. My face grew a shade of pink, and he definitely noticed. "I am? If anyone's a devil, it's you." I teased, looking at him with a snarky attitude. "I prefer ghoul, thank you very much." He scoffed with his arms crossed. "I thought you were a drow." I smirked. "Oh, you little-"