simon GHOST riley imagines

you're... sorry?

"Welcome back." My tone of voice had quite some sarcasm in it, given the fact that I'm never this serious.

Soap and Price walked in through the door, still lugging their gear, rifles in hand. The Task Force 141 had gone on a quick mission, one that didn't require my involvement. Price had specifically picked Soap, Ghost, and himself for the job. They left early in the morning, around 8, and now it was past 10 in the evening.

Took longer than I thought it would.

I wasn't sure about the mission's details. Price had summoned Ghost and the others urgently, hinting at retrieving something important. 

No clue what, though.

"Did you guys manage to get everything you needed, Captain?" I asked, my tone more serious than before.

Seated in the main living room on the comfy couch, a pillow on my lap and remote control in hand, I had been watching some forgettable romcom before their return. It was about a quirky bookstore owner falling for her, even more quirky, next-door neighbor. The names of the characters? Already forgotten, to be honest.

Soap leaned his rifle against the kitchen island, standing at a short distance from me. As he straightened, his eyes connected with mine.

Price cleared his throat, momentarily breaking my gaze from Soap. "Yes, yeah, we did." he confirmed, his fatigue clearly showing in his eyes.

Shifting on the couch, I set the remote aside and twisted my body to lean over the couch's back, allowing me a clearer view of them without straining my neck. "Ghost back as well?" I questioned. It wouldn't be unusual for him to still be on his way back; delays happened from time to time.

No answer – a bit strange.

My head turning a bit to the side, eyebrows lifting, trying to tell them with my head that I asked them something. An odd silence hung in the air.

"No, no... He's here." Soap responded a few seconds after my gesture. Also looking quite tired.

"Wonderful, where are they?" I continued, my curiosity piqued. "At the armory, maybe? Returning their equipment?" I twisted my body back and stood up, walking over to the kitchen. "Or cleaning themselves up." Leaves my lips while seating myself on one of the barstools, reaching for an apple in the fruit basket. 

No answer – strange again. 

I looked up from my apple, which I was checking for bruised spots, finding none and bringing it to my mouth. The two men in front of me were following the apple in my hands.

"Mission must've been intense." I remarked wryly, waving the apple with a teasing grin, finally getting their attention. "I never knew my fruit-inspecting skills were this entertaining, but this level of focus is impressive."

Soap exchanged a quick glance with Price, the tension between them growing more conspicuous. 

What the fuck is happening...?

"Listen." Price finally began, his voice softer than usual, a hint of discomfort in his tone.

My attention was rapt now, my curiosity fully piqued. Price's voice wavered slightly, and it was as if he was struggling to find the right words for something.

"Yes... I'm all ears." I said, a tinge of impatience creeping into my tone. My eyes darted between Price and Soap.

But again landed on Soap when he decided to continue what Price, kinda, started. "We need to tell you something."

Yeah, no kidding.

The air grew heavy, a knot forming in my stomach for something that I don't got a clue about.