Chamber of Secrets | Ghost x Reader

Chapter 44 - Progress

The sparring session had been harsh, almost brutal.

Your body screamed in protest with every step as you leaned heavily against Ghost, the lingering ache of the fight still fresh in your muscles.

He'd pushed you further than you thought you could go, and now the sting of those blows served as a reminder of how hard he’d tested you. But despite the intensity of the training, there was a surprising gentleness in the way he supported you now, steady and unwavering.

He opened the door to your room and guided you inside, his presence like an anchor in the aftermath of chaos.

You were grateful for the brief respite.

As soon as you could stand on your own, he tossed your bag onto the bed, giving you a quick glance.

“Take a moment,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Clean up. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

You nodded, feeling a strange relief wash over you at the thought of a quiet moment.

As he stepped out, closing the door behind him, you exhaled, finally allowing yourself a moment of peace.

The sting from earlier was still sharp, but knowing Ghost was nearby made it easier to shake off the worst of it.

You made your way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on your face to clear your head. The chill of it helped, momentarily erasing the haze from the sparring match.

When you glanced at your reflection, you noticed a small cut on your cheek and a bruise at the corner of your lip. You touched it absently, the mark almost feeling like a badge of honour, but the sight of it also made you smile—something about seeing yourself in this moment of vulnerability felt... oddly liberating.
 
Shaking your head at the thought, you turned away, deciding it was time to wash up.
 
After a quick rinse, you slipped into a fresh Khaki long-sleeve shirt and black cargo pants, feeling a little more human. You ran a comb through your hair, letting it dry loosely around your shoulders.
 
As you admired your now-clean reflection in the mirror, a smile tugged at the corners of your lips. Satisfied, you finally left the bathroom and headed toward the kitchen.

The scent that hit you as soon as you entered the kitchen was warm and inviting. You weren’t sure what you expected after a gruelling sparring match, but a home-cooked meal wasn’t it. And to top it off, it was Ghost who was preparing it.
 
You found him near the stove, his movements precise and purposeful as he chopped vegetables with military-like efficiency.
 
It was strange to see him like this—so focused on something so ordinary.
 
His presence, usually all grit and steel, was oddly comforting now.
 
When he glanced up and caught your eye, he offered a brief nod of approval. “Lookin' better,” he remarked, a trace of amusement lacing his voice.

You bit your lip, trying to suppress a smile, but the warmth of his words lingered in the air longer than the food’s smell. “Uh… thanks,” you mumbled, taking a seat at the small table.

Ghost didn’t respond, just carried on with his task.

You could feel the urge to help, but just as you were about to move, his eyes flicked up to meet yours. The quiet command in his gaze made you sit back down without a word.

You obeyed—there was no questioning it.

The kitchen fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft sizzle of food in the pan and the occasional clink of utensils.

As the minutes stretched on, your thoughts drifted back to the sparring session.

The fight still burned in your mind—how Ghost had pushed you to your limits, broken you down, and forced you to dig deeper than you’d thought possible. Your face heated with embarrassment as you remembered how you’d resisted him, how each defiant moment felt so exhilarating at the time but now, in hindsight, seemed like a series of childish mistakes.