Phantom ~ [Simon Ghost Riley]

XLIV. Breathless

I look out the windshield and see him shake his head slightly as he walks toward the driver's side. He's wearing most of his work clothes still. I recognizable the dark blue gear that isn't covered by his military vest and holsters for once, as he still wears his mask and gloves too.

Once he gets into the car, he stills for just a moment before pulling off the handbrake. I stay silent, my gaze glued on the corner of the windshield furthest away from him.

I don't know what he wants, and I'm also aware of how stupid it is that I got into his car in the first place.

He pulls out of the parking lot, the car engine humming underneath us as the rain still continues to assault every window of the car. The windshield wipers are working overtime at this rate.

"Why are you still in your work clothes..?" I mumble quietly, my eyes flickering over to the time, breaking the silence after what feels like an eternity.

"I didn't have the time to change," he says, his voice quiet as he too stares out in front of him. "Came here right after I left the base."

I catch myself nodding at his response. "..Why?" My gaze on the windshield still

He sighs underneath his mask, the fingers of his right hand wrapping around the steering wheel a little tighter before he speaks. "Because I needed to talk to you."

"I really don't know what there is to talk about.." I say, though barely loud enough for him to hear.

"There is," he says, his voice low as always.

"If this is your way of cutting me off entirely then maybe you sho-"

"-Shut up, Ace. Please.." He nearly growls, frustration etched in his tone. "I didn't fucking come all the way here to cut you off..."

I sigh, leaning back in my seat as he continues.

"—Those sounds you heard," he says. "The injector guns.. They've continued the production. There's way more than expected."

I scoff, genuinely in disbelief he came all the way here to talk about work. "Really, Simon? You came all the way out here to tell me about those fucking guns? Do you know what time it is?"

"Wait," he stops my rambling, but he keeps his eyes on the road. "It wasn't just that... I didn't come here for that."

"Then what?!" I raise my voice by accident and I immediately lean back in my seat, regretting my tone towards him. "You have to stop doing this to me, come on... I don't want to be some fucking toy of yours.." I continue hesitantly, my voice unstable and filled with frustration.

He doesn't respond. His eyes are on the road, still, but I can tell by the movement of his shoulder that he sighs. His jaw moves underneath his balaclava and I wait for the words to leave his mouth, but then they don't. His mouth closes again and he doesn't say a single thing.

"Let me out," I sigh, my hand resting on the door handle as I look out the passenger side window.

We're on an empty road and there's no one to be seen for at least a mile. At this point, I'm willing to walk home alone if it meant I could be out of this mental torture.

"Ace, stop it," he warns, his voice deep and serious.

"Stop the car, Simon. I'm serious," I respond, my hand already tugging on the door handle.

His gaze flickers to my hand and by the looks of it he panics. He presses on the brakes and the car stops abruptly.

I immediately open the car door and jump out, the rain drenching me within a couple of seconds. I turn around and start walking as anger builds up inside of me.