A Collection of Short Stories | Simon Riley "Ghost" x Reader

the death of piece of mind: chapter 1

Upon your arrival at the bar with your team, the relief in the atmosphere was almost palpable. The end of a grueling deployment called for a celebration, a brief interlude before everyone would disperse into their routine lives once again. The clamor of the bar, the boisterous laughter from your teammates, and the clinking of glasses creating a symphony of relief and mirth.

As you threaded your way through the crowd to get a drink, a group of unfamiliar men approached from behind, uninvited. Their words slithered through the air, laden with suggestive remarks and intentions, as their hands reached out attempting to breach the invisible barrier around you. The brush of anxiety tinged your buzz with a discomfort that nibbled at the edges of your mood.

Before the reality of the situation could fully sink in, a sudden force created a boundary between you and the lingering threat. Your eyes trailed upwards to find your Lieutenant, who had now positioned himself as a human barricade between you and the advancing men.

"Don't fucking touch her," he grunted, his face was a solid mask of stern authority.

Feeling a ripple of tension emanating from Ghost, you shifted uneasily, your vision slightly blurred from the alcohol coursing through your veins. A part of you clung to the security his presence offered, yet another slice of you felt trapped, a bird caged yet again, though in a gilded prison this time.

Your cheeks warmed, a medley of embarrassment and irritation painting them a subtle shade of crimson. Your eyes darted from the shamed faces of the men who were now retreating, back to Ghost.

"Thanks," you murmured, your gratitude came out begrudgingly, laced with a hint of bitterness. You found it hard to meet his eyes, a fierce spark of rebellion kindled within the depths of your being. Did he think you were so feeble, to be unable to handle a few rowdy men in a bar? Dodging his piercing gaze, you swiveled back to face the bartender, motioning for another glass to drown the churn of emotions within.

As if the liquid courage was a propellant, you took a long sip, defiantly. Each gulp seemed to underscore your quest for autonomy, the warm trail it left behind, akin to your burgeoning resentment.

The subtle clink of glass against the counter accompanied Ghost's stance, as he moved closer, standing beside you now. His physical proximity was a blend of comfort and discomfort, his body language an audacious assertion of dominance. His eyes were locked onto yours, their depths scurrying to gauge the turmoil that brewed within you.

"Do you need me to get these men to leave you alone?" his voice softened, contrasting the harsh contour of his face.

His presence encased you, almost suffocatingly so. The scrutiny in his gaze seemed to pierce through, seeking chinks in your armor. The uprising of defiance within you wrestled with the haze of tipsiness clouding your senses.

"No," you finally managed, your voice firm yet your words slurred. Your fingers curled tighter around the glass.

"I'm fine, Ghost. I can take care of myself." You accentuated your declaration with another long gulp, placing the glass on the counter with more force than needed. The obstinate thrill that zinged through you punctuated your resolve; your autonomy was not up for negotiation, not now, not ever, and certainly not in front of him.

Before Ghost could muster a response, his intention was intercepted by one of the men who leaned into your personal space, the tendrils of alcohol on his breath mingling with his words.

"Hey, cutie..."

Like a steel trap snapping shut, Ghost's attention whipped back to the intruder, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"What did you just call her?" he snarled, the threat in his voice thinly veiled.

The remark from the stranger hung in the air, akin to a cloud of cheap cologne, attempting to cling onto anything it could. But before Ghost could unleash the wrath that seemed to simmer beneath his calm exterior, a reckless surge propelled you to interject.