Hotel Six: A Call of Duty Fanfiction

Chapter 10: If I Told You

"I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." she said with a smirk.

Price looked disgruntled. "Really?"

"I could do it, don't forget."

"I didn't forget," he growled. He took a breath. "Really, what was that about?"

She shrugged. "You'd have to ask Soap; it's his story to tell."

He gave her an inquisitive look. "... Alright, then." Price sighed. "Just don't call him that again."

"Why do you care?"

"It's... Nothing, just weird." He walked away toward the course. "Roach, go ahead and take five; you're looking a tad overheated."

She huffed. What was up with the Captain?

Thwack.

Clink.

Thwack.

Clink.

THWACK!

Clink.

Ghost wasn't a stranger to the sound of throwing knives. He looked for the noise and peered over Jessica's fence to see her throwing a single blade at a target. He tapped on the gate and walked in. "Hey, you." he said.

Jessica turned around. "Hey, Ghost." She was about to throw again when she stopped with a jerk and turned back around. "... Riley, what the hell happened?" she asked.

Ghost put a hand over his cheek, feeling the two-day growth of stubble on his face. "Is it that bad? I thought you didn't mind facial hair; considering you don't gripe at Captain Price about it."

"No... you've had a face under that mask the whole time??"

He gritted his teeth, but his mouth shaped into a smile. "Sod off, mate..."

She giggled. "C'mon, I'm going to put this away, and then I'll get us some drinks."

Ghost scoffed and ran his hands through his jet black hair. "So what did you need me for?"

Jessica sat down and passed Ghost a brown bottle of Crabbie's. "Has Price seemed... I dunno, off lately?" 

"I don't know; haven't really noticed." Ghost said before tilting the bottle into his mouth.

"Some help you are..." she teased, taking a sip of her own drink. "He didn't like that I called Soap 'Studmuffin'-"

"Why'd you call him that?"

She gave him a side glance. "I can't tell you that. Anyway, he got all upset about that, but when I asked him why it was bothering him, he just said it was nothing and quickly walked away to talk to Roach."

Ghost shrugged. "Roach was overheating..."

"Yeah, I guess... Am I just overthinking?"

"Most likely," he said, taking another sip. "Why does this bug you anyway?" His eyes slid over to her. "Got a crush on him or somethin'?" he remarked.

She made a face at him, eyes narrowed and her jaw jutted forward. "... No." she growled lowly. 

"Just making sure, mate." he said with a shrug.

A few heartbeats of silence passed between them. "... God, why the hell would you suggest that??"

Ghost laughed, nearly spouting his drink across the room before setting it down yet again with a sharp "clack." "Dunno; seemed like a good idea at the time. Didn't expect it to get to you. Should I think you're lying?"

"Back off, Ghost," she warned. 

"I mean, he's older than you, for sure, but it's not unheard of... How old are you, again?"

"Irrelevant; I am of age, and that's all you need to know."

He bobbed his head. "Ah... At least sixteen, got it."

"S... Sixteen..?" she echoed with a mark of confusion. "... You people get married at sixteen here..?"

"What the bloody hell are you two talking about?"

Jessica gave an alarmed exclamation, and whirled around to see who had spoken. Ghost, too looked alarmed at the origin of the voice at the open basement door.

"Price!" said Jess. "What... Uh, how did you get in here?"

"You left the gate open." he said plainly. "And the door... And you were talking loud enough for me to put no effort into sneaking in." He gave her a sly grin as she made a humerously alarmed expression. "What's going on down here?"

Jess looked at Ghost, then back at Price. "Uh.... We're talking about things that are different in America and England?" Ghost nodded in agreement.

Price pursed his lips. "... Alright then..."

"What's going on, sir?" asked Ghost.

"Just came over to check on Jess; she doesn't usually leave her gate open, so I got curious."

Ghost shot an inquisitive look at her. "Why would he know that..?"

"We're neighbors," she said. "Just my freakin' luck SHIELD would set me up with a house across the street from my boss'." She cleared her throat. "How's Roach doing?"

Price shrugged. "He's fine; told him to stay hydrated, and he should be fine for tomorrow."

She nodded. "Good..."

The Captain dipped his head after a beat of silence. "Well, I don't want to interrupt. I'll let you two get back to your conversation."

"Thanks, Price!" she called after him.

After Price was gone, Ghost picked up his drink. "Huh... Just came to check on you, eh?"

"Yeah, he does that." she said.

"And he asked you over for a drink last night?" he asked.

She squared to him. "What are you getting at, Riley?"

He chuckled. "Nothing at all..."

"You're a damn liar," she laughed, although trying to be a touch intimidating as she leaned toward him.

"I'm just wondering if maybe Soap's right, that's all..." he said, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

Her eyes widened and looked his face up and down. "... Oh? Right about what?"

He tipped the bottle toward his mouth. "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you..."