Knotted Hearts- Simon Riley × Reader

Fate

This is the chapter from the one-shot so no one has to go back, enjoy ;)

Ghost wasn't sure when he grew so comfortable with your presence, but he found himself half expecting you to be there when he'd come home or when he'd have something to say but to only be acquainted with silence.

It kind of hurt his heart, he had no one.

No family, he was only recently retired at early 40 so no immediate friends; which he didn't care to make any that weren't his army buddies.

No regular civilian could ever understand him.

So he kept to himself but one night he made a quick run to the 24-hour gas station, needing to replace another pack of cigarettes.

He came out of the store, the cool September air hitting his only visible skin around his eyes.

He opened the pack and threw the plastic in the trash, that's when he saw you.

You were standing against the front of the store, your arms wrapped around you as you shivered.

Tears silently fell from your eyes, your right one bruised to a greenish hew and hints of purple still.

The thin jacket you wore barely helped against the harsh night, your short dress giving the chilly air more access to further assault your delicate skin.

You sniffled and wiped your eyes in case this masked man was a customer, putting on your best smile.

"Hey." You say almost awkwardly, you were new to this. Young and had no way of taking care of yourself, no family either.

Prostitution was your best bet, only you didn't know you'd be punched and further abused in the process.

His eyes flickered to you, taking in the black eye and skimpy clothing.

"What?" He says with a thick British accent; standing there, waiting for you to state your reasoning for stopping him.

"Can I have one?" You ask, referring to his cigarettes.

He walks over to you and hands you one, studying your face closely.

He realized how young you were, immediately disagreeing with any reason you'd have for being out here like this.

He held the lighter up and watched you inhale to light it.

"What are you doing?" His gruff voice asked you and you looked confused.

"You're too young to be out here, alone. What happened to your face?" He prodded, his protective instincts kicking in seeing a girl like this.

"I'm 22." You say as if that'd be any better.

"Like I said, you're too young to be out here. You have a way home?" He asked and looked around, seemingly not catching onto your line of work.

"My home is wherever, whoever takes me for the night." You say ashamed.

"Right. Let's go then." He says and you nod, assuming he's paying.

Oh well, he's been nicer than any guy who's ever picked you up before and he doesn't have a terrible smell either.

"All night orr-" you ask, trying to see how much you'll make from your time with him.

"You need somewhere to sleep, yeah?" He asks and you nod.

"Alright, all night then." He says and hands you 3 hundred dollar bills.

You marvel at it, in the lower parts of Cali it'd take you a week to make this much and here he was handing you it just for one night.