Unseen | Ghost x Soap

Chapter 50: Under the Radar

Ghost's POV:

The air between Johnny and me was thick with the unspoken intensity of what had just transpired. My heart was still pounding in my chest as I held him against the wall, our breaths mingling in the small, dimly lit room. The reality of our situation began to seep back in, and I knew we couldn't stay here forever. Dinner was soon, and we couldn't let the team get suspicious.

I reluctantly pulled back, my hand slipping away from Johnny's waist. His eyes met mine, still glazed with the remnants of pleasure, and I forced myself to focus. "We need to go," I said quietly, my voice rough. "Dinner's soon. We can't let the team suspect anything."

He nodded, his expression a mix of reluctance and understanding. "Yeah.."

We straightened ourselves up, the room suddenly feeling much colder as we stepped away from each other. The intense connection between us was still there, but we both knew we had to push it aside for now. We couldn't afford to raise any eyebrows.

As we left the room and made our way back to the mess hall, the reality of what we'd done began to sink in. We had crossed a line, and there was no going back. I glanced at Johnny, his face flushed and his hair slightly tousled, and I felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with an overwhelming desire.

When we finally arrived at the mess hall, we were late. The team was already seated, their voices filling the room with the usual banter and laughter. As we walked in, all eyes turned to us. I could see the curiosity and amusement in their gazes, and I knew we weren't going to get away with this easily.

"Look who decided to join us," Gaz called out, a teasing grin on his face. "What took you two so long?"

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "Got held up," I said simply, hoping that would be enough.

Price raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and knowing. "Held up, huh? Soap, you look like you've been through the wringer. Everything alright?"

Johnny managed a weak smile, clearly trying to play it off. "Yeah, just a long day."

The team exchanged glances, their smirks and chuckles making it clear they weren't buying it. I could feel the tension in the room, the way their eyes lingered on us, but I forced myself to stay calm.

"Alright, alright," Price said, finally putting an end to the teasing. "Let's eat. We have a long day tomorrow."

Dinner proceeded with the usual chatter and laughter, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being under a microscope. Every time someone looked at us, I wondered what they were thinking, if they suspected anything. I kept my focus on my food, trying to ignore the burning curiosity in their eyes.

Johnny sat across from me, and I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the way he struggled to keep up with the conversation. It was clear the events of the day had taken a toll on him, and I felt a pang of guilt. This was all my fault. I had pushed things too far, and now we were both paying the price.

Eventually, dinner came to an end. The team slowly dispersed, some heading to the rec room, others to their quarters. Johnny and I exchanged a brief glance, the unspoken understanding passing between us. We needed to shower and get some rest. Tomorrow was another day, another challenge to face.

We walked to the showers in silence, the tension between us palpable. I couldn't shake the memory of his touch, the feel of his lips on mine, but I knew we needed to focus. There would be time to talk later, to sort through the mess we'd made.

In the shower, the hot water did little to wash away the turmoil in my mind. I scrubbed at my skin, trying to cleanse myself of the guilt and the fear that clung to me. I could hear the faint sound of water hitting tiles from Johnny's stall, and it only made the memories sharper, more vivid.

As I finished and stepped out, toweling off, I glanced over at Johnny. He was still under the spray, his head bowed, the water cascading over his shoulders. I wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but I knew now wasn't the time. We needed space, time to process everything.

We dressed in silence, the weight of the day's events hanging heavy between us. I could see the exhaustion in Johnny's eyes, the way he moved with a heaviness that spoke of more than just physical tiredness. It mirrored my own weariness, the emotional toll of what we'd been through.

Finally, we made our way to our quarters. The base was quiet now, most of the team already settled in for the night. As we reached our rooms, I paused, my hand on the doorknob, and looked over at Johnny. He met my gaze, and for a moment, the intensity of his emotions was laid bare.

"Goodnight, Johnny," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his expression softening. "Goodnight, Simon."

We parted ways, each of us retreating to our own thoughts, our own space. As I lay in my bunk, staring up at the ceiling, the events of the day replayed in my mind. The intensity, the connection, the unspoken promises—it was all so much to take in.

Sleep was a long time coming, my mind too restless, too filled with the memories of Johnny's touch, his kiss, his presence. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers, but for now, all I could do was try to find some semblance of peace in the chaos.