Fighter (Simon Ghost Riley!)

Curiosity

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Ghosts voice rang through the gym.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Soap replied.

He was sat alone, In front of the large mirrors by the weight station. He sat on a bench lifting weights trying to build the muscle back up in his scarred arm. Ghost stood behind him, he watched the captains movements. How he winced slightly every time he lifted a weight. How he tried to ignore the obvious pain he was in.

"Ive started waking up early. Besides had to check on your dumbass make sure you don't over do it" Ghost simply replied. He knew the captain wanted back into the fight as soon as possible. But he's only been back at base two weeks. His physical wounds were healing nicely but no one but soap knew how his mental health was doing.

Truth was soap was suffering, not just physically. But mentally. He was broken. Zachaev had broken him. A years worth of tourture taking its toll. He tried to keep himself sane. Tried to do anything to not think of the things that happened to him.

But they always came. Late at night. When he was alone. The past two weeks had been plagued by nightmares. That he was back there in the gulag. At Zachaev's hands.

"So how you holding up?" Ghosts voice broke soaps thoughts. Soap placed the weight on the floor his friend sitting next to him.

"Same shit different day" soap chuckled slightly. Ghost nodded in agreement. Ghost chuckled lightly under his mask.

"It's really fucking good to see you again" Ghost finally spoke. Soap chuckled lightly patting his friends shoulder.

"Seems you had control of things pretty well mate" soap finally looked at ghost, he had heard no end of how ghost had lead the task force while soap was away. Ghost chuckled slightly.

"I'll never be as good as you mate" Ghost replied meeting the captains gaze.

"Ah... bullshit. You think I came into this perfect?... ask adder. I fucked up no end of time. And she started after me" soap laughed, he winced slightly his ribs hurting. He groaned slightly.

"Take it easy for fuck sake" Ghost ordered handing the captain a bottle of water. Soap took the water drinking a few mouthfuls.

"Remember I'm still a higher ranking officer than you" soap shoved ghosts arm lightly. He stood walking over to the bench press. He stood by the weights and nodded for ghost to lay down.

"Come on I'll spot ya" soap smiled. Ghost pulled his mask off, his hair was a mess, he laid on his back and shuffled slightly placing his hands on the bar. Soap stood over the lieutenant and watched as he lifted the weights with ease.

"So you and adder seem pretty close now" soap commented. Ghost paused for a moment thinking of how he should answer the comment. He didn't have a quick come back, or witty remark.

"Roach" soap simply commented, answering ghosts silent question. Ghost rolled his eyes as he placed the weight down. He stood sliding heavier weights onto the bar before laying back down again.

"She's a good solider" Ghost simply commented as he lifted the bar once more. His muscles began to ache as he lifted the weights.

"Ah is that why she's sneaking into your room at night?" Soap chuckled at ghosts poor attempt to deflect the question.

"Also roach who heard from ozone" Ghost was going to punch roach straight in his stupid face next time he saw him.

"Roach is an idiot" Ghost simply replied. A thin layer of sweat covered ghosts body.

"A idiot who notices things others don't" soap retaliated. Ghost placed the weights down standing and wiping his face.

"If you've got something to say just fucking say it" Ghost spat. Soap held his hands up in defeat shaking his head slightly.

"Nah. Nothing.... I'm just saying if you love her you should probably tell her before it's too late" soap teased. He knew he was pissing Simon off it was obvious. Simon rolled his eyes huffing slightly.

"I'm not fucking in love for Christ sake" he rolled his eyes so hard soap thought they would disappear into the back of his head.

"So what is it then? Just fucking about? Cause if you know anything about her then you would know that's not a good idea" soap continued to tease, but there was truth behind his words. He thought of adder as a sister. And whether Ghost was his friend or not he'd kill anyone that hurt adder given the chance.

"No!-" Ghost stopped sighing heavily. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to find the words.

"She's told me everything soap... every fucking awful thing that's happened to her." ghost spoke through gritted teeth. His fists hung clenched by the side of his body, his eyebrows pulling together as he shook his head slightly.

"Look... if she's told you everything. She must like you. Or at least trust you mate. It's obvious! You two fell asleep on the bird home and guess what you were holding hands! Just stop being a fucking baby and tell her how you feel" soap chuckled.

Their conversation was interrupted as roach and ozone burst into the gym laughing loudly. Roach soon stopped laughing when he saw ghost.

"You little shit!" Simon laughed before running after roach.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Adder questioned gently. She looked up from her tray of food as soap gently sat opposite her. He winced slightly as he sat down.

"I wish people would stop fucking saying that" soap laughed lightly sipping his coffee.

"Because people are worried about you" adders voice was hushed as she spoke. The captain waved a dismissive hand.

"I'm fine, Anyways. You and ghost" soap spoke unbothered. He was looking around the mess hall absent mindedly eating whatever food he had. Adder choked slightly taken back by her friends question.

"What about ghost?" She replied staring at her food. Soap watched her watch her food. She was pushing it around her plate, before taking small mouthfuls.

"You two shagging or what?" He asked casually taking another mouthful of food. Adder coughed almost spitting her food at the captain, she glared at him sharply.

"Shouldn't you be more worried about getting better?" She replied with a small smile. Soap chuckled lightly raising an eyebrow.

"So is that a yes?" Soap continued pressing the Sargent for more answers.

"Nothing is going on" adder replied matter of factly, ghost and roach walked through the doors of the mess hall, ghosts eyes instantly founds adders. She smiled slightly looking away before soap let out a sarcastic hum in agreement.

"Really? Because that's little look isn't convincing me" he chuckled quickly looking over to ghosts then back to adder.

"You know they say curiosity killed the cat soap" adder spoke, she stood picking up her tray and throwing the remaining food in the bin before walking towards the door.

"Aye But satisfaction brought it back!" Soap shouted after her, she held her middle finger up to the captain chuckling slightly before leaving.

"Bloody idiots" soap chuckled to himself.