Don't Bother (Ghost X reader

30.

You stared at the empty doorway Soap had just disappeared through, your cheeks still warm from the exchange. His audacity was nothing new, but the way he'd looked at you this time felt... different. There was a challenge in his eyes, as if he was daring you to play along.

The thought barely had time to settle before Ghost stepped into the room. His silent presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. His eyes scanned you briefly, catching the faint blush still lingering on your face.

"Something I should know?" he asked, his voice even but tinged with curiosity.

You quickly shook your head. "Soap being Soap," you replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But the weight of Ghost's gaze made it hard to keep your cool.

"Hmm," he murmured, stepping closer. His towering frame always had a way of making you feel small, but it wasn't just his size—it was the intensity he carried, the quiet authority in his every move. "He always pushes boundaries. Question is, are you letting him?"

Your heart stuttered at his words. "Ghost, it's not like that. He's just... teasing."

"Teasing you about last night?" His tone sharpened ever so slightly, and you couldn't tell if it was irritation or something else entirely. "Or about something else?"

You swallowed hard, feeling cornered. "Why does it matter?" you shot back, more defensively than you intended. "What happened last night was... a moment. It doesn't mean anything."

Ghost's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Didn't feel meaningless to me."

His words hit you like a punch to the gut. You opened your mouth to respond, but before you could, Soap's voice echoed from down the hall.

"Oi, Ghost! You getting all territorial, mate?" Soap appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and a cocky smirk plastered across his face. "Relax. I'm just having a bit of fun. Not my fault she's so easy to rile up."

You felt Ghost's tension before he even spoke. "You don't know when to quit, do you, Johnny?" His voice was dangerously calm, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes.

Soap stepped further into the room, his grin unwavering. "Why would I quit? She doesn't seem to mind. Do you, love?"

Your gaze flickered between the two men, the air crackling with unspoken tension. "Enough, both of you," you snapped, stepping between them. "I'm not some prize for you to fight over."

Soap's grin faltered slightly, and Ghost's expression softened, but the tension remained palpable. You turned to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating energy, but Soap's voice stopped you.

"Just one question," he said, his tone unusually serious now. "If you had to pick between us, who would it be?"

Your breath caught in your throat. You turned to face them, their eyes locked on you, each waiting for an answer. The weight of the question hung in the air, and for the first time, you truly felt the gravity of the situation.

This wasn't a game anymore.