Contagious || Ghost x Fem

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐬

"You kissed a girl and you liked ittt!" Soap sang drunkenly on the ride home, his voice slurring the lyrics. You rolled your eyes and gave him a playful shove, trying to suppress a laugh. "Shut up!" you said, laughing, as you lightly smacked his arm. "Good job on going along with it for the mission, Serpent," Price said, offering you a knowing smile. You giggled drunkenly, leaning against the side of Ghost. "Of course, for the mission," you replied with a smirk, the alcohol still coursing through your veins, dulling the edges of the night's events.

When you arrived back to the base, everyone except you, Soap, and Ghost went up to bed. As you and Soap sat on the couch, he started absentmindedly braiding your hair, his words slurred and nonsensical from the alcohol. Surprisingly, you found yourself understanding his ramblings perfectly, the shared camaraderie of the night weaving its own language between you two. Eventually, Soap succumbed to sleep, his head lolling onto your shoulder, leaving a small trail of drool. Meanwhile, Ghost stood in the kitchen, brewing some tea. You stumbled your way over to him, the alcohol still lingering in your system, and leaned against the counter.

"Need something?" Ghost's voice was calm, not even turning around to look at you. "Can I get some tea?" you ask, your words slightly slurred from the drinks. He hums in response, finishing up the tea and making you a cup before preparing his own. "So, how are we getting into the party?" he asks, his tone serious. You shrug, taking a sip of the warm liquid. "Walk in looking fancy. Oh, and a masquerade mask is required," you explain casually. Ghost shakes his head in disbelief. "That seems too easy," he remarks skeptically. "It'll be fine. I don't know how your big ass is gonna get in though," you joke, a playful smirk forming on your lips.

Ghost chuckles lightly at your jest, turning to face you with a faint smile. "I'll find a way," he replies confidently, his eyes meeting yours. You nod, feeling a sense of camaraderie with him despite the unusual circumstances. "I have no doubt about that," you say, offering him a genuine smile. The night settled into a comfortable quietness as you and Ghost sat in the dimly lit living room, sipping on steaming cups of tea. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated the space, casting gentle shadows on the walls. Ghost's question broke the silence, his voice calm yet filled with understanding. "I imagine you're gonna be up for a while, right?"

You nodded slowly, the weariness of the day settling into your bones. "Most likely. It's been hard to sleep lately," you admitted, the weight of recent events lingering in your mind. Ghost nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "It has," he acknowledged, taking a slow sip of his tea. The warmth of the drink was soothing, chasing away the chill of the night. After a moment of comfortable silence, Ghost's voice broke through again, his tone unexpectedly sincere. "Hey, Serpent," he began, his words carrying a rare vulnerability. "I'm sorry for being a dickhead when we met."

You paused, caught off guard by his apology. For a moment, you were speechless, your mind racing with surprise and curiosity. Before you could respond, a sudden exclamation interrupted the moment. "Holy shit, did Ghost just apologize?" Soap's slurred voice rang out from where he lay, before drifting off to sleep again. A soft chuckle escaped your lips at Soap's interruption, but you quickly regained your composure. "It's alright," you reassured Ghost, meeting his gaze with a small smile. "I know why."

As Ghost produced a pack of cigarettes, the soft click of the lid opening punctuated the quiet of the room. "Care for a smoke?" A smile played on your lips as you met his gaze, a silent agreement passing between you. "Let's go," you responded, rising from your seat and following Ghost as he made his way towards the door. Stepping outside, the cold night air enveloped you, sending a shiver down your spine. You wrapped your arms around yourself, the thin fabric of your skirt doing little to shield you from the chill. Ghost's figure stood beside you, a comforting presence in the darkness.

With practiced ease, Ghost lit his cigarette, the flame casting a warm glow on his features. As he took a drag, the ember glowed bright against the night sky, illuminating the contours of his lips in fleeting moments of light and shadow. You watched him quietly, the silence between you filled with unspoken understanding and shared camaraderie. Despite the cold, there was a sense of warmth in this moment, a connection forged in the quietude of the night and the flickering glow of the cigarette between Ghost's fingers.

"So, was it really for the mission?" Ghost asks referencing your kiss from earlier. "Well, yes and no. I needed to see if I liked it." He nodded. "Did you?" The question hung in the air, laden with curiosity and a hint of something more. You took a moment to consider your response, the soft glow of the cigarette casting fleeting shadows across your fingers.

"I suppose I did," you admitted, your voice quiet against the backdrop of the night. "It was... different." Ghost nodded, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Different how?" You paused, searching for the right words to convey the complex mix of emotions stirring within you. "It felt... liberating, in a way," you confessed, your gaze drifting to the distant stars scattered across the night sky. "Like breaking free from the confines of expectation and duty, if only for a fleeting moment."

Ghost chuckled, the sound mingling with the wisps of smoke swirling around you both in the cool night air. "Well, too bad she has a husband." You nodded in agreement, a wry smile playing at the corners of your lips. "I know, right? I could have just lost my dream girl," you quipped, your tone laced with playful sarcasm. His laughter was genuine, a rare glimpse of levity in the midst of the tension that often surrounded your missions. "What? I'm serious," you insisted, crossing your arms defensively.

The unexpected remark seemed to catch Ghost off guard, and he chuckled again, shaking his head. "Nothing, it just caught me off guard. Didn't know you were like that." Joining in his laughter, you shrugged nonchalantly. "There's a lot you don't know about me," you replied, the words tinged with a hint of mystery, leaving the night ripe with unspoken possibilities. Ghost's expression softened, his gaze meeting yours with a newfound sincerity. "You're right. But I'd like to."

You couldn't help but arch a skeptical eyebrow, amusement dancing in your eyes. "Oh, really? I find that hard to believe," you retorted, teasingly. His curiosity piqued, Ghost pressed on. "Why's that?" he inquired, genuinely interested. "Because last time you asked about me, you were interrogating me," you reminded him, your tone laced with playful accusation. He nodded, acknowledging the truth of your words. "It was a precaution," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of apology. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," you waved off his justification with a grin, not entirely convinced. "I have no reason to interrogate you anymore," Ghost assured, his gaze steady and earnest, as if seeking to reassure you of his sincerity.

"What's with you being all nice all of a sudden?" You question crossing your arms. Ghost leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon for a moment before turning back to you. "Maybe I realized that being guarded all the time doesn't always serve me well," he admitted, his tone surprisingly candid. You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, intrigued by the unexpected glimpse of vulnerability. "So, what brought about this revelation?" you prodded, genuinely curious. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Maybe spending time with you isn't as terrible as I thought," he replied with a shrug, a playful glint in his eyes.

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