Strength Together

Chapter 3

TW: Mentions of Soap's death, talk of death
WC: 2678

A shiver ran down Ophelia's spine as she felt the cold, piercing stare of Simon Riley. He was still wary of her, that much was obvious and he did nothing to hide it either. It had been a week since she came to the base. Their mission wasn't to start for another two more days, and she would be going with them. Staying in a small safe house away from the action of course.

Gaz didn't want her to come since she refused to learn how to hold a gun. But Price insisted as if something went wrong, it'd be better to have their doctor closer by. Ghost had nothing to say on the matter. In fact, the most she had heard him say in the whole week she'd been there was the deep growl of a yes to her question about his skull mask and when she accidentally walked in on him having a meeting with Price. She didn't hear much but she learned of his thick Manchester accent.

"Ignore him." Gaz elbowed her lightly as he noticed she kept stealing glances at Ghost. He sat in one of the few armchairs of the small shared living space.

"Why doesn't he go outside or stay in his room? He looks like he really doesn't want to be here with us." Ophelia asked before sipping her morning tea.

"Price makes him. After...um...Soap, he stayed in his room for the first two months. It took a lot to get him to eat, he ended up with a tube in his gut since he wouldn't eat. After that, Price started forcing him out. I don't know how he manages it but he only listens to Price." Gaz informed, keeping his voice low even though they both knew there was no reason, Ghost could hear them.

"He must have been really close to Soap. I'm really sorry for both of you." Ophelia pushed her scrambled eggs around her plate with her fork, not really wanting to eat anymore.

The sound of a heavy chair scraping across the floor caught their attention. Ghost stood so quickly and with so much force, he pushed the whole armchair back a few inches before heading for the door.

"Simon." Price said with a fatherly tone.

"Going for a walk." Ghost responded, knowing what Price was going to ask.

"Now I feel bad." Ophelia admitted.

"Don't. He's always been like this, just more...moody than before. He'll be fine." Price informed as he ate the last bite of his toast.

"I'm gonna go after him, apologize." She said as she pushed herself up from her seat. She took her plate and cup with her to the kitchen, taking care of them before following after Ghost.

She could hear Gaz try to tell her it wasn't worth her breath but she felt the need to apologize anyway.

With a small sprint, she had him in her sights. He was walking with his hands in the pockets of the black hoodie he wore. His skull faceplate was left in his room but he still wore the black balaclava with the white stripes. She hadn't seen his face once yet.

"Ghost?" It felt weird to call him that, usually she called people by their names. It didn't feel like a true nickname either.

"Go away."

"Please slow down, I want to apologize for talking about you like that." She was struggling to fully catch up to the large man as one of his steps seemed to be three of hers.

"For who? Won't do me any good. You're only trying to apologize to make yourself feel better." Ghost spat without stopping but he did turn his head to the side so she could hear him better.

"I- that's a really rude way to put it. I feel bad for hurting you."

Ghost rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "You didn't. So leave me be. I won't ask again."