Do I Hold You... Like This?

Remember?

Ghost hadn't had a real romantic partner in a long time, and truth be told he missed it. The comfort and security of knowing that someone is there for you, both physically and emotionally was a piece of him that he missed when he was alone. Sure, on the outside he was stoic and the badass of the task force. But facades only last so long before they begin to break down. I guess you could start the issues with the nightmares. Every soldier got them, no exceptions. It was just part of the waiver that you signed off along with your life attached to the cursive writing. He's had nightmares for years, varying in situations, length, and quantity, but they were there nonetheless.

The nightmares would still wake him up in a sweaty and breathless state at times, but he had them tampered down. For whatever reason, one had slipped into his mind during an exfil on the way back to the base.

Sitting next to Roach, Soap across from the both of them. No one bothered him as he let his head loll back and feel the vibrations of the helicopters rotors beating. He trusted Nikolai to get them home in one piece, and if he didn't then he could trust Roach and Soap. So he let his guard down as he rested. Little to no worries ebbed at him as he drifted off quickly.

He dreamed. This wasn't unusual per se, but not the most common. A plain dream, somewhere in his room as he called someone. Then it shifted, almost unnoticeably. The distortment of the voice on the other end of the phone and the way the room looked. It took a violent turn quickly. He heard screams, cries, and pleas for help. Ghost recognized the voices and faces that were phasing in and out. He quickly turned, trying to see what was going on, but only came face to face with the last person he expected to. Roba.

He grabbed Ghost by the neck and forced him downwards, brandishing a bayonet. Ghost tried to push him off but his hands were like lead weights and he was useless. Roba pressed the blade into Ghost's neck, using the dull edge to tear the skin rather than slice. The deeper it went the more it hurt, a burning, stinging pain. Roba gave an insane grin before shoving the blade all the way in, finally cutting Ghost's life off.

Ghost gave a jolt as he woke up, gripping the edge of his seat stiffly. An overcast had rolled  in so he took his sunglasses off to rub his eyes. Looking out of the open door, it seemed like they still had a ways to go before they touched down on base. He glanced to his right, noticing that Roach was still awake. Roach was sitting with one of his ankles on his knee and was writing something in his journal. He had noticed Ghost get shocked awake but didn't want to press him about it. He had his own fair share of nightmares.

Ghost leaned over to see what Roach was writing, obviously teasing by exaggerating his movements.

"Whatcha writin' about, bug?"

"Nothing, just keeping track of what happened for the debriefing later," Roach answered smoothly.

Ghost nodded and settled back into his original spot. Soap was sleeping silently, like a rock, Ghost thought. Ghost and Roach talked about whatever was on their minds for the rest of the ride. Nikolai gave a warning that they were landing in ten minutes, so they sat in comfortable silence. Roach was the one to start the conversation back up, but in a more hushed tone.

"I saw you get a bit startled when you woke up earlier... you alright?"

They had flown out from under the clouds so Ghost had put his sunglasses back on. The sun reflected off of them, making it impossible for Roach to see his eyes.

"Yeah, just some nuisance in a dream," Ghost dismissed flatly.

Roach furrowed his eyebrows, "Okay, but I'm always here if you need someone to talk to."

Ghost stared at him for a second. They had joined the 141 at the same time, and were both excellent soldiers. They knew each other pretty well from years of being friends. This wasn't the first time Roach had promised this offhandedly, and Ghost always thanked him, even if he never took up the offer.

"Thanks, mate. Means a lot," Ghost nodded and smiled from under his balaclava, the fabric creasing obviously.

Roach gave a lopsided but relieved grin in return.

Looking back, Ghost could almost pinpoint the exact moment where their camaraderie and friendship became, almost more than that. It was true, they had to be close to work so well together, but it hadn't crossed either of their minds to think just a bit more of the other.

Ghost reminisced about this as he lay with Roach in bed, the two of them simply cuddled together. It had taken a long and winding journey for them to finally admit and be together, but Ghost considered it worth the time.

Roach let out a soft breath as he slept, reminding Ghost that he should as well. He set his head in the crook of Roach's neck and closed his eyes. He drifted off easier than he did most nights, aided by the knowledge that if he were to have a nightmare, Roach would be there for him, his offer ever standing.