Phantom ~ [Simon Ghost Riley]

LI. Epilogue: Seeds

~ All good things must come to an end ~

"Pull it even tighter, please. The goal here is to cut off the blood circulation to my leg entirely," Simon breathes, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry," I laugh, not realizing I had been pulling it this tight. My finger hooks underneath one of the straps, releasing some pressure off of his thigh in the process. "Better?"

"Better," he mumbles, his arms hanging to his sides as he looks down at me.

A week had passed and things had shifted regarding our last mission. Things were just moving forward again, as though things with Spike had never happened. But behind closed doors, I knew the chapter hadn't entirely closed itself off.

However, Price wasn't one to share much yet. I know he'll tell us soon enough, but for now, we've just got to focus on the smaller missions.

"Be careful," I mumble, my hands lingering on the two sides of the zipper from his opened jacket.

"It's nothing. Just a small mission," he tilts his head slightly, his brown eyes peeking over the edge of his mask.

"Still," I smile up at him before my gaze falls back down to his chest.

As I run my fingers along the edge of his jacket, I feel a slight bulge that doesn't quite belong. Curiosity piqued, I slip my hand into the hidden pocket and retrieve a small, folded packet. It's made of brown paper, slightly worn as if it has been carried for a while.

Intrigued, I unfold it, revealing a collection of small, dark seeds nestled within.

"What's this?" I ask, holding up the packet of seeds, my brows furrowed in confusion.

His eyes flicker with a mix of surprise and a hint of embarrassment, his usually stoic expression momentarily disrupted.

He clears his throat, his gaze searching for words. "It's... well, they're seeds," he finally replies, his voice softer than usual.

Seeds?

I glance at the contents again, puzzled by their presence in his gear. "Seeds for what?" I press, my curiosity growing.

His gaze meets mine, and there's a vulnerability there that I've rarely seen. "Wildflowers," he admits, his voice carrying a mix of sincerity and shyness.

My heart skips a beat at his words. The wildflowers we had talked about during one of our rare moments in between missions. The ones that held a special place in my heart.

My eyes flick back to the packet, and that's when I notice something else. Written in black marker on the back of the packet are three words, all in lowercase.

i love you

My breath catches in my throat as I read the words, a rush of warmth and emotion washing over me. Ghost, the enigmatic warrior, had found a way to convey his feelings through something as simple as seeds.

Seeds of my favorite flowers.

"You did this?" I manage to whisper, my voice laced with awe and affection.

He shifts on his feet, his demeanor tinged with a faint blush hidden beneath his mask. "Yeah. I didn't plan on... I mean, it's just..." His gaze holds mine, vulnerability mingling with his customary strength. "I just thought... if something were to ever happen, this way I could still do something for you. Even after... you know.."

His words strike a chord deep within me, and I step closer, my fingers brushing against his. "You don't have to worry about that," I reply softly, my heart swelling with love for him.

A faint smile creases the skin near his eyes. "I know. It's just... I wasn't planning on telling you like this."

I reach out to touch his jaw, my thumb brushing against the fabric. "It's beautiful, Si. Really."

For a brief moment, we stand there, the weight of our emotions hanging in the air between us. Then, unable to hold back my own feelings any longer, I lean in and press a kiss against the cold surface of his mask.

It's a gentle kiss, a hidden promise of a love that neither of us ever expected when we first laid eyes on each other.

"I love you too," I say, my voice soft yet unwavering.

He doesn't need to say a word in response. The look in his eyes says it all. And as we stand there, surrounded by uncertainty and danger yet bound by our connection, I know that the seeds he carries hold more than just the potential for wildflowers.

"Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds," Liam scrapes his throat, his shoulder resting against the door frame of the armory. "But I'm ready, Lieutenant."

"Good, Katz. Grab your guns," Ghost says, looking back at me once more. "I'll see you later," he says with a nod.

"Good luck," I smile at him again, before he leaves me in the armory with Liam.

Liam does as Ghost says and grabs two guns from the many racks on the walls, but before he can go, I loop my fingers in his military vest to stop him from running so easily. I pull him around, and he faces me. "Ready?"

"Oh, yeah. It's nothing," he smiles, acting as though he's not even a little nervous.

My lips form a thin line as my fingers hook underneath his brand-new Task Force 141 badge. "Really Liam? Brand new badge and you can't even keep it on straight?"

His hand flies over mine, pressing it tight against the badge. "It is perfectly straight, alright.."

I shake my head, another laugh escaping me. "Fine. Now go. Wouldn't want to keep your lieutenant waiting..."

A/N

There it is... I'm actually about to cry, help. This epilogue has my entire heart I love them so much AHHH ;')