Contagious || Ghost x Fem

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮

As the morning light filtered through your window, you couldn't shake off the unease that settled in your stomach. The absence of a text from Ghost weighed heavily on your mind, despite knowing that their mission had been executed the previous night. You paced back and forth in your room, the silence around you amplifying your worries. Each passing minute felt like an eternity as you waited for any sign of communication from Ghost. You checked your phone repeatedly, hoping for a message or a call that would ease your apprehension. But the screen remained blank, devoid of any updates from your team. 

You decided to call Soap, and after a few rings, he picked up, sounding like he had just woken up. "Serpent?" he greeted. "Everything alright?" he continued. You scoffed before responding, "I should be asking you guys that. Did everything go alright?" There was a momentary pause before Soap replied, his voice still groggy from sleep. "Yeah, why? Ghost hasn't told you?" You felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. "No, he didn't," you admitted, trying to hide your disappointment.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and you could almost sense Soap's concern through the phone. "Strange," he muttered, his voice more alert now. "I'll check in with him and get back to you, alright?" You nodded even though he couldn't see you. "Thanks, Soap. I appreciate it." After exchanging a few more words, you hung up the phone, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering worry. Until you heard from Ghost himself, the unease would continue to linger in the back of your mind. 

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Soap stretched his limbs and stepped outside of the safe house, heading towards the shore. As he reached the beach, he spotted Ghost sitting there, just as he had expected. Ghost seemed lost in thought, staring out at the waves crashing against the sand. Approaching quietly, Soap took a seat next to him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the sound of the ocean filling the silence between them. Then, Soap finally broke the quietude. "Morning," he said softly, not wanting to startle Ghost.

Ghost turned his head slightly to acknowledge Soap's presence, a faint nod in response to the greeting. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, lost in contemplation. "Morning," Ghost echoed, his voice low and distant, carrying a weight of weariness and introspection. Soap observed his friend for a moment, noting the lines of tension etched into his brow, and the subtle slump of his shoulders. It was clear that Ghost had a lot on his mind, the aftermath of their mission perhaps weighing heavily on him.

"You alright?" Soap inquired gently, concern evident in his tone. He knew that Ghost often carried the burden of their missions long after they were completed, the weight of their actions lingering in his thoughts. Ghost hesitated before responding, his words measured. "Yeah, just... processing, I guess." Soap nodded understandingly, giving Ghost the space he needed to gather his thoughts. The two of them sat in companionable silence, the rhythmic sound of the waves providing a calming backdrop to their conversation.

"Serpent's worried about ya," Soap spoke up, his voice carrying concern. Ghost sighed, his gaze distant. "I'm sure she is." "You gonna get back to her?" Soap inquired. Ghost sighed again, his eyes scanning the horizon. "I'm not meant for stuff like this," he admitted. Soap rolled his eyes, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Ghost, we talked about this." "Come on, Soap. You really see a man like me being in love?" Ghost's tone was tinged with resignation. "My plan was to die with honor, to die in the field."