COD Oneshots

The Future ( Ghost)

Y/N had become accustomed to the hustle. As a single mother to her six-year-old son, CJ, her days were a whirlwind of responsibilities. Balancing two jobs was never easy, but she had no other choice. Each morning she donned her uniform for her shift at the diner, her tired eyes always masked with a smile for her customers. After a short break in the afternoon, she would head to her evening job at the local grocery store, stocking shelves until late at night. Sleep was a luxury she seldom indulged in, but the thought of CJ's future kept her going.

One sunny Saturday morning, as Y/N was carrying groceries up to her small apartment, she bumped into her neighbor, John Pierce. John was ex-military, always kind and quick with a smile. He lived alone in the apartment next door and had a habit of checking in on her and CJ.

"Hey Y/N, need a hand with those?" John offered, his eyes glinting with genuine concern.

"Thanks, John, but I've got it," Y/N replied, struggling with the weight of the bags.

"Nonsense," he said, taking the heaviest bags from her. "You're doing too much on your own."

As they made their way up the stairs, John struck up a conversation. "So, I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine. He's in town for a while. His name is Simon Riley, but we call him Ghost."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Ghost? That's an interesting name."

John chuckled. "Yeah, he's an interesting guy. We served together. Thought you might like to meet him."

Y/N hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Sure, why not? It would be nice to meet one of your friends."

Later that evening, after CJ was settled with his homework, there was a knock at the door. John stood there, accompanied by a tall, imposing figure in a black hoodie and a skull-patterned balaclava.

"Y/N, this is Ghost," John introduced.

Ghost extended a gloved hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice deep and gravelly.

Y/N shook his hand, taken aback by his appearance but sensing no threat. "Nice to meet you too, Ghost. Come on in."

As they settled in the small living room, CJ peeked out from his room, curious about the new visitor. Ghost noticed him immediately and waved. "Hey there, kiddo."

CJ's eyes lit up. "Are you a soldier too, like Mr. Pierce?"

Ghost nodded. "I am. And I hear you're a pretty tough little guy yourself."

CJ beamed, clearly pleased by the compliment. As the evening went on, Y/N found herself relaxing in Ghost's company. He was quiet but attentive, and he had a way of making her feel at ease despite his intimidating exterior.

Over the next few weeks, Ghost became a regular visitor. He helped with little repairs around the apartment, often brought groceries, and even babysat CJ when Y/N was working late. His presence was like a shadow—always there but never overbearing.

One night, after CJ had gone to bed, Y/N and Ghost sat on the small balcony, the city lights twinkling below them.

"Why do you do all this?" Y/N asked, curiosity finally getting the better of her. "You hardly know us."

Ghost was silent for a moment before he spoke. "John told me about you and CJ. He said you're strong, but everyone needs a little help sometimes. I know what it's like to feel alone, to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. I just wanted to lighten the load a bit."

Y/N felt a lump in her throat. "Thank you, Ghost. You've done more than I could ever ask for."

He turned to her, his eyes softening behind the mask. "You and CJ deserve it. You're doing an incredible job."