Contagious || Ghost x Fem

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲

The kitchen was alive with the sizzle of bacon and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as you set about preparing breakfast for the team. The routine had become familiar, comforting even, as you expertly cracked eggs into the skillet, the whites bubbling and the yolks beginning to set. With a yawn, Gaz stumbled into the kitchen, his hair tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep. He made a beeline for the coffee maker, his movements sluggish as he reached for a mug. "Morning, Gaz," you greeted, flashing him a sympathetic smile as he poured himself a generous cup of coffee.

His response was a low groan, a testament to the toll of the previous night's revelry. "Rough night huh?" you remarked, flipping the eggs with practiced ease. Gaz nodded, his expression a mix of exhaustion and resignation. "You have no idea," he muttered, taking a grateful sip of the steaming brew. As you worked, more members of the team trickled into the kitchen, each sporting varying degrees of weariness from the previous night's festivities. Soap stumbled in next, rubbing his temples and squinting against the light.

"Morning, Serpent," he mumbled, his voice groggy as he reached for a plate. "Morning, Soap," you replied, handing him a plate piled high with eggs and bacon. He offered you a weak smile before settling down at the table, his focus solely on devouring the breakfast before him. The sound of footsteps heralded the arrival of Ghost, who strode into the kitchen with his usual air of calm confidence. His eyes held a glint of amusement as he surveyed the scene before him, taking in the sight of his comrades nursing their hangovers.

"Morning, everyone," Ghost greeted, his voice low and raspy as ever. "Morning, Ghost," you chimed in, offering him a plate of food. He nodded his thanks, taking a seat at the table opposite of Soap. Despite the weariness evident in his teammates, Ghost seemed remarkably composed, a testament to his disciplined nature. Keegan descended the stairs with a bounce in his step, a stark contrast to the groggy demeanor of his comrades, and there was a noticeable spring in his stride as he made his way into the kitchen.

"Good morning, everyone!" he greeted cheerfully, his voice ringing out with genuine enthusiasm. "Morning, Keegan," you replied, surprised by his unusually chipper demeanor. He wasted no time in joining the others at the table, his grin widening as he dug into the breakfast spread before him. Despite the late night, Keegan seemed remarkably energized, his spirits lifted by something beyond the festivities of the previous evening.

As you watched him interact with the team, a sense of curiosity gnawed at you. What had put the spring in Keegan's step? Whatever it was, you couldn't help but feel a twinge of happiness at seeing your teammate in such high spirits. Gaz then approached you, his plate clean. "You're a lifesaver Serpent, thanks." With a sympathetic grin, you accepted Gaz's plate, now spotless. "Happy to help," you replied, depositing it in the sink before fixing yourself a plate of breakfast.

As you settled at the table, the atmosphere was light, the clinking of cutlery against plates the only sound. However, Soap's mischievous spirit broke the silence as he eyed the untouched bacon on Ghost's plate. "You gonna eat that?" he quipped, a playful smirk on his face. Ghost's response was a silent but pointed glare, his eyes meeting Soap's briefly before returning to his meal. Unfazed, you intervened,  picking up a strip of bacon. "Here, Soap, have some of mine," you offered, offering him the bacon with a grin.

Soap accepted the gesture with a smirk, popping the bacon into his mouth. "See, it doesn't cost anything to be nice," he remarked, nudging Ghost playfully. Ghost remained stoic, though his lips twitched in response to Soap's antics. "Doesn't cost anything to not be either," he retorted dryly, causing Soap to scoff good-naturedly. The banter continued, filling the kitchen with a sense of camaraderie as everyone enjoyed their breakfast together. 

Price entered the kitchen, his presence commanding attention as he made a beeline for the coffee pot. "Morning, Price," you greeted him cheerfully, offering breakfast out of habit. He shook his head with a faint smile. "I'm alright, kiddo, but thank you," he declined politely, pouring himself a cup of coffee. You nodded understandingly, returning to your meal. The room fell into a comfortable silence until Price addressed Ghost. "You started that paperwork yet, Ghost?" he inquired, his tone businesslike.

Ghost, focused on his meal, looked up at Price. "No, sir," he admitted, a hint of reluctance in his voice. Price nodded, his expression firm. "I need it by next week, alright?" he reminded Ghost, his expectations clear. Ghost met Price's gaze with a determined nod. "Yes, sir," he affirmed, acknowledging the task at hand. With that, Price sipped his coffee, signaling the end of the conversation as he turned his attention elsewhere, leaving Ghost to mentally note the impending deadline. 

As everyone dispersed to attend to their own tasks, you found yourself left with the chore of washing the dishes. It wasn't an unpleasant task; the warm water and soap bubbles were strangely soothing as you scrubbed away at the plates and utensils. Lost in your thoughts, you turned around to grab a dish towel, only to nearly jump out of your skin at the sudden appearance of Ghost standing right behind you. "What the fuck, Ghost! Why do you keep sneaking up on me?" you exclaimed, placing a hand over your racing heart to calm the sudden rush of adrenaline.

"It wasn't intentional," he replied dryly, his voice devoid of emotion as he regarded you with his piercing gaze. You sighed, trying to regain your composure before addressing him again. "What do you want?" you asked, moving around him to grab the towel from the counter. With an air of authority, Ghost simply stated, "My office. Five minutes," before striding away, the heavy thud of his boots echoing against the kitchen floor. The cryptic message left you with a sense of curiosity and a tinge of apprehension as you pondered what could possibly await you in his office.

As Ghost turned around, he added, "And grab everything you have on what we're investigating," before continuing on his way. You couldn't help but roll your eyes at the additional task, realizing your plans for the day had just taken an unexpected turn. Heading upstairs to your room, you passed by Keegan's open door and noticed him seated at his desk, engrossed in typing something on his computer. Leaning against the door frame, you greeted him with a casual, "Hey, Keegs."

He swiveled around in his chair to face you. "What's up, Serpent?" he asked with a grin. "Just checking in on you, making sure you're not getting into too much trouble," you replied with a playful smirk. Keegan mockingly placed a hand over his heart. "That means so much to me," he said dramatically, fluttering his eyelashes for effect. Rolling your eyes, you retorted, "Oh, shut up." Grinning, Keegan explained, "Nah, just catching up on some friends from the Marines." "That's nice. What are their names?" you inquired, genuinely interested. "Viper and Blake," Keegan replied, his fingers still dancing across the keyboard. "Damn, Viper is a good callsign. I should have chosen that," you mused, impressed by the choice. Keegan chuckled. "You might get to meet him. He just got transferred to the shadows."

"Maybe I will," you replied, flashing Keegan a grin. "But I gotta go before Mr. Grumpy gets mad at me," you added with a playful smile. Keegan laughed. "Yeah, better not keep the boss waiting. Don't want to be on his bad side again." You nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Catch you later, Keegs." "Take care, Serpent," Keegan called after you as you made your way to your room, a sense of camaraderie lingering in the air.

1315 words