Chapter Text
Ever since Las Almas, Soap’s crush on the lieutenant has steadily increased. Wanting to hear his dumb jokes over comms on missions, reaching out his fist to bump Ghost, a slap on the back, sitting with their legs touching on the aircraft rides, however he could get close to him he longed for.
It had been so long of just doing that, he never felt like he could get away with anything more. He never wanted to make Ghost uncomfortable and he never felt like he could quite navigate how to go further without him confessing his feelings. Which was off the table. At least for now.
They were just coming back from a mission, a 3 week long reconnaissance and intel gathering mission.
As they got out of the aircraft, Ghost put his hand on Soap’s shoulder, “Debrief with Price in 20, see you in there”. Then Ghost hurried in front of him seemingly eager to set his stuff down and change, and Soap couldn’t blame him.
That didn’t stop Soap from doing his best to suppress the shiver from the touch that Ghost willingly gave. That rarely happened but when it did it made Soap go crazy.
Price nodded along while Ghost and Soap gave their debrief and handed the information over to him. “Alright then you both are free to go, however everyone is to be in here at 0900 tomorrow after breakfast. Dismissed.”
Soap followed Ghost out of Price’s office wanting desperately to talk to him before they succumbed to the separate routines they maintained while on base, “So…what do you think Price has for everyone tomorrow?”
“I don’t know Soap I’m sure we’ll find out with the rest of the team,” Ghost’s voice was gruff and almost on the edge of annoyed. Then he sighed and stopped in his tracks turning ever so slightly to face Soap, “I’ll see you at breakfast Johnny, yeah?”. The one-eighty his tone did just then sent Soap for a loop, annoyance had melted into gentleness almost like it was an apology.
“Y-yeah Lt. I’ll see you then.”
Soap purposefully went to the showers late so no one would be in there. He needed time to…decompress…after being on a mission with just Ghost for three weeks. His hand quickly found the base of his cock that was already at half chub just waiting for this moment. He quickly worked himself up without even having to try too hard. All he could think about was Ghost’s voice in his ear, the jokes they shared, the bed they shared when the heater gave out that last night. How solid Ghost had felt pressed up against him. His hand started working impossibly faster thinking about how Ghost’s head had ended up in the crook of his neck and how his hands skated across his chest almost to comfort whatever nightmares he had to have been going through. His masked lips that had just floated above the high plains of Soap’s upper back through the night.
“ Fuck G-ghost, ” he hissed out between his teeth right before his orgasm spilled over his fist.
His hand slapped against the shower wall to find purchase while he got his legs back under him and his breath evened out.
Once he came back to himself and cleaned himself up he couldn’t wait to be in his bed and not a cot after three weeks.
As he laid on his bed, now past being pent up, he thought about the past interactions with Ghost again. He thought about what happened outside of Price’s office. Had Ghost been sick of him? He knows he can be kind of annoying, and really he should’ve seen it coming. Everyone was probably pitying Ghost for having to spend so long with him and no one else. He also knows that there’s no way that Ghost sees the same in him. Ghost will never have feelings for him. He probably has been sick of him following him around like a lost puppy. He wonders if sharing the bed that night was too far, especially for someone you’re just friends with. What if he had ruined the friendship they had seemed to have? They were at least friends right? He had better get a grip on himself before he did ruin it.
He’s made up his mind, he’ll give Ghost the space he’s probably so desperately seeking. He’ll give him space so their relationship stays the same, he’d hate to lose Ghost from being too much.
-
He woke up for breakfast excited to see Ghost, except with some distance , he reminded himself. Which is fine, the distance is for Ghost. He would give Ghost whatever he needed, to stop being too much to handle.
He made his way into the cafeteria. The place was already bustling, the dull roar of everyone talking brought a certain comfort after being without it for so long. After getting his food he found Gaz, Price, and Ghost all sitting at a table already. While he usually sat in the empty chair between Gaz and Ghost, he made the choice to sit on the other side of Price away from Ghost.
The table immediately noticed the change, almost all looking at him with an eyebrow cocked. He flashed them a quick and soft smile, hopefully to convince them that everything was alright. That had seemed to be enough for them, they focused back on their breakfast.
Soap ended up being one of the last ones to get to Price’s office. Which ended up working in his favor so that he could avoid the space on the couch next to Ghost for the standing space next to Gaz.
Ghost’s gaze had followed him all the way to the spot he had chosen instead. The look in Ghost’s eyes almost looked hurt. But that couldn’t be it right? Soap then caught the look from Gaz, filled with confusion and ending with a question as he looked at the spot next to Ghost and back to Soap.
Soap just shrugged and focused on Price as he got the attention of the room.
“Alright we have some great news today! One of our own coming back to us after a long mission and an even longer leave. Since most of you don’t know him I thought I’d hold this meeting to introduce him to those of you who don’t.”
A man walked in then, around Soap’s height with a mop of brown curly hair with a neck gaiter mask covering most of his face other than his deeply green eyes. He took Soap by surprise, there was something so curious about him.
To the right of him from the couch he heard Ghost, impossibly soft, “Roach?”
The man, who he assumed was Roach, brightened up then and Ghost and him met in the middle wrapping him in the biggest hug. That took Soap by surprise. He had barely seen Ghost casually touch people much less bring them into full embraces.
Oh.
Oh.
Are they…together? An ache found it’s way into his chest and his cheeks flushed, he looked down at his feet to try and hide it. Had he been hitting on someone completely taken? Was that why he was making Ghost so uncomfortable? Maybe they were just friends? Really good friends? He looked to Gaz for his reaction. Gaz was beaming with a smile that almost seemed to split his face obviously waiting to greet who was also his good friend.
When Roach finally made Ghost separate with a fond look and a hand that squeezed his arm, almost as if to say later , he caught Gaz’s hand in a clasp to bring each other close with a couple of pats on each other's back.
“Great to have you back Roach!” Gaz beamed.
“Sergeant Gary ‘Roach’ Sanderson will be accompanying us from here on out! Make your acquaintances, make him feel welcome again, and get the hell out of my office!”
Everyone rushed to greet him before Soap could even bring his thoughts together. Soon enough it was just them, Ghost, and Gaz left in the room.
Soap steeled himself, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to work with this man. He doesn’t know anything about him and it’s rude to place his insecurities on the man.
“Aye John Mactavish,” he shook Roach’s hand. “But just call me Soap a’right!” He shot the man as much of a smile as he could muster and Roach gave him a firm nod and a pat on the shoulder.
He looked up to see all three of them looking at him. He suddenly felt like he wasn’t supposed to be there, like he was intruding on their time to catch up with each other.
“Right well, I’ll leave ya to it. Again good to meet ya Roach.” He gave him a nod and then quickly made his way out.
There was a blooming ache in his chest and his head was spinning with so many questions. Were he and Ghost dating? Gaz hadn’t even batted an eye at the reunion in front of him, so whatever it was it was normal. If they were dating, how long? Had he really made Ghost uncomfortable with coming on too strong? Were there hints that he was sending Soap that he just hadn’t picked up on? He should probably apologize to him. Explain that he didn’t know he was taken and that he’ll back off. Unless Ghost didn’t pick up on how Soap felt then that would probably just make the situation worse.
God his head hurt and his heart was trying to beat out of his chest. He decided to go on a run to get rid of the energy.
He didn’t know how long he was out there but the sun had definitely changed positions in the sky, to where it was clearly beginning to be early evening.
He wanted to go to the cafeteria but the idea of walking in there with everyone else made his stomach turn, completely getting rid of the desire to eat.
God
, he was being ridiculous! Why was this getting to him so much? It’s not like him and Ghost were going to ever be anything anyway! He should be happy for his friend, his friend that he didn’t even know had a boyfriend. He didn’t know Roach but figured he was a standup guy if he had the favor of the three people Soap also favored. He would put his feelings aside about all of this at some point, just not tonight. All he wanted to do now was shower and sleep, hopefully waking up tomorrow with a more responsible and mature mindset.