Beyond Duty - Simon Ghost Riley x Reader

Chapter 22. So... What do we do now?

A/N: ⚠️⚠️Warning for Sexual themes and language!! Consider this chapter a sweet treat.

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The barracks are pretty quiet this late at night. The usual chatter and movement reduced to muffled sounds in the distance. My boots echo softly against the linoleum floors of the hallway as I approach the familiar door. It's slightly ajar, just enough for me to open it without knocking.

The room is slightly lit. Ghost doesn't have the overhead lights on, but instead just the small bedside lamp. It casts a warm glow that makes the shadows dance on the walls. I glance over at the bunk beds, Ghost is just sitting on the lower bunk, his broad shoulders hunched slightly forward.

He's shirtless, his muscular torso wrapped in light fresh bandages that contrast his tanned and scarred skin. His skull mask is off, resting on the bed beside him. Though, his balaclava still obscures his face.

He's focused on cleaning his combat knife, his long fingers moving methodically. Called it. The gunshot wound in his shoulder is evident, even beneath the bandaging. His bruises spill out and peek just slightly over the edges in a mix of purple and yellow splotches.

I take a step inside the room, and shut the door quietly behind me. The click of the lock draws Ghosts attention to me. His sharp eyes stained with black around them flick up to meet with mine. For a moment I see a flash of something softer in his gaze, but it's quickly replaced with his usual guarded expression.

"You're out." Ghost says, his deep gravely voice cutting through the silence in the room.

I nod, moving closer to him. "I got the all-clear earlier."

"Good." He mutters, closing the knife and tossing it onto the carpet flooring. "You shouldn't have been there in the first place."

I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "And you should have been. You got shot, Lieutenant. Or do you need me to remind you of that?"

He scoffs, leaning back ever so slightly. "Bullet went clean through. I told you, nothing I haven't dealt with before."

I take a moment to study him, the way his muscles tense even as he tries to seem relaxed. The bandages are tight, and though he's trying to downplay it, I know he's in pain.

"Did they give you anything for pain?" I ask, but part of me already knows the answer.

"Told them I didn't need it." He replies in an almost irritated tone.

I reach into my pocket, grabbing a pill bottle filled with 600 mg of ibuprofen pills, tossing it over to him. Ghosts quick reflexes helps him catch it with one hand effortlessly.

He stares down at the pill bottle, reading it before scoffing. He just tosses it next to his knife on the floor, the pills rattling inside.

Ghost doesn't look up, instead he starts to trace the bandages on his torso for a moment. "I'm not made of glass." His gravely voice dripped in sarcasm.

"No, but Price did put you on light duty for a reason." I shoot back, watching the muscles in his arm flex as he tests the bandages. 

"I don't do light duty." He spats, his voice low and grumbly.

"At least take a pill or two."  My voice sounds done with the conversation. I start to kick off my shoes, thinking I had the last word.

"I don't need anyone fussing over me."

I hesitate for a moment, unsure if I should even reply. The sight of him like this, almost vulnerable yet still stoic, feels like something I should just leave alone.