Whispers in the Dark (Ghost/Konig)

[Nine]

*Quinn's POV*

Germany, home sweet home, right?

Kortac is clearly thrilled to be back, jogging into base and greeting their fellow soldiers who didn't get sent to Mexico.

I rather be anywhere else. Between the events that occurred after the bar, and the nagging knowledge we were scheduled to depart the following morning, I've hardly slept.

The plane ride was quiet, mostly. Soap had his moments. I was able to doze off a few times, only to be haunted by distant memories.

Things I thought I had long forgotten, resurfacing in the moments I'm supposed to be granted peace. And now that we are here, every hair on my body is raises, the goosebumps have yet to go away.

Every noise causes my head to turn, to just make sure everything is fine. Konig's been hanging around more, minimizing the distance without getting too close.

A part of me hates that he knows what's going on in my head, because it gives him a reason to care. The other part is longing for the comfort he use to bring me.

And to make matters worse, Ghost has hardly spared me a look. The inner turmoil his words that night have caused me, I'm such a fool.

Fucking him was the worse mistake I could have made that entire night.

I should have kept my distance, listened to the logical side of my mind that told me to stay away the moment I arrived.

To him, I was nothing but a good time, with the potential to return again when the stress gets to be too much.

To me, there was hope, the longing for something real. The promise for feelings, affection. Why? Who fucking knows.

I sure don't.

Not once was I given a sign that any of that was possible.

"I need a fucking drink," I mumble to myself, rubbing my head and squeezing my eyes shut.

"I'll take you up on that," Soap jokes quietly from beside me, nudging me gently. I huff a short laugh and he grins widely at me.

I refocus on the meeting at Price starts speaking, picking up from wherever Konig left off. My eyes meet Konig, who seems to be asking if I'm okay with the way he's looking at me.

I ignore it, turning my attention to Price. "Any questions?"

No response, as everyone shakes their heads. "Dismissed, Kortac will show you to your quarters."

I sigh, leaning down and grabbing my back from beside my feet, then following everyone out. Kortac has their own building for their sleeping quarters, a few feet away from the main building.

We all follow behind the two men leading us, thanking them as they indicated which rooms belong to us.

The rooms are small, smaller than the rooms back in Mexico. Luckily, each room has its own bathroom, consisting of the bare necessities.

I start the unpacking process, staying within my room as I finish with the hopes of being able to hide out the rest of the day.

Surprisingly, nobody bothers me, and it's only when my stomach starts to rumble that I decide to leave the confines of my quarters.

The base is dark and quiet, the flood lights outside and the occasional guards the only activity at this hour.  I walk silently towards the main building, hoping there is some leftover food or something else I can eat.

I nod to a few guards as I go, earning respectful nods back. The eerie silence makes my skin tingle as I enter the dark building, the only lights being the emergency ones' that never turn off.