One thing he learned over the years was how fucking nosy people could be.
It was frustrating, but he knew he would always be questioned walking around wearing a balaclava day in and day out. The only times he took it off was when he took a shower and when he went to bed.
He had nothing to hide, not on his face at least, but he liked to keep everyone guessing. The rumors he head were hilarious: he didn't have a nose, he had a horrific scar across his face, half of his face was missing, etc.
The rumors never got to him. He had been through much worse in his life and he wasn't going to let silly rumors bother him.
Ghost was the name he used for himself and it stuck, Simon "Ghost" Riley, but no one called him Simon except for his Captain, John MacTavish better known as Soap. It annoyed him at first, but he got used to it when he realized that Soap would continue to call him whatever the hell he wanted.
Soap was the closest thing he had to family since...well, since a few years ago.
He left that life behind and started a new one, took on a new persona. Soap never asked him questions even when they first met and he appreciated that. He didn't want to talk about his past and why he wanted to leave everything behind.
At breakfast that morning Soap had told him that he would have to deal with the new recruits.
He hated new recruits.
The reason? They stared and asked too many questions. Questions he would never answer. Questions he couldn't be arsed to answer.
He was in a bad mood which was normal for him, but even much more so than usual.
Ghost reluctantly walked over to the bus that the new recruits were filing out of. "Fucking muppets," he said to himself as he approached them. Of course they all stared, all except for one who was busy looking at her surroundings.
"Oi!" Ghost shouts and almost everyone flinches and looks at him. He had her attention now. Small thing she was. Couldn't be more than 5'2. He kept his eyes on her as he yelled, "Form up!"
She lined up shoulder to shoulder with everyone else and stood at attention. He walked in front of them giving his usual speech about today being the only easy day they'll have.
His eyes turn to her again and he's happy he has his shades on so he won't look like a creep. She must be good if she's made it this far. He notices an angry red scar running from her jaw to her throat.
Suddenly she looks at him and he looks away slowly, not wanting to seem obvious.
Ghost couldn't help but to be impressed. She was the first female recruit the task force had got in awhile. The few they did get never lasted long. He wanted to believe she was different from the others, but he would have to wait and see.
Why are you so concerned about her?
He starts to walk away and he hears a voice call out behind him. "Sir?"
He stops without turning around. She walks up to where he's standing. "Um...Lieutenant?"
"Yes?" Ghost answers and begins walking again.
"Well, I was wondering where I would be staying seeing as how I am the only female recruit here," she says while looking down. Is it that hard to look at me? Well, I guess it's better than having her stare at me...
He stops suddenly and she stumbles to a stop. Ghost looks at her and he notices that she is trying to keep her head turned slightly, hiding the side with the scar. When she looks at him, there's no fear, no questioning look.
"Straight ahead. Women's barracks," he says. She smiles and nods before walking off.
"Oi, Simon!" Soap calls, "Did you not hear me calling you?!"
Ghost turns to him, "No I didn't. Sorry mate."
"What's got your attention?" Soap asks and Ghost just shrugs, "Maybe I'm ignoring you because you made me deal with the recruits and you know how much I hate doing that."
Soap shakes his head, "It can't be THAT bad, you're just a pessimist."
"With good reason," Ghost snaps back.
"Alright, alright. Calm down, Simon," Soap says. Ghost is quiet for a long time then says, "I'm starving, let's go eat."
"You're always hungry," Soap teases.
"Its because I work so hard," he says and Soap rolls his eyes. He knew he could always rely on Soap for anything. Soap understood his random mood swings and how sometimes he just didn't want to be bothered. Task Force 141 was the only family he had. Soap was his brother.
All the noise in the mess hall snaps him out of his thoughts.
He grabs a plate of almost everything.
"My god man, where does it all go?" A familiar voice says. Worm, one of the few Americans in the 141.
"Fuck off, Worm."
He, Soap and Worm find a table with a few of the other men. "Evening Lieutenant," Roach says sitting across from him.
"Evening," Ghost responds, removing his shades and pulling his balaclava up slightly to reveal his mouth. He starts eating while looking around, which he always does. He spots the new girl at the end of the table eating alone. That was me a few years back.
She doesn't seem bothered by it though. Just ask her to come sit with you all, it won't hurt. "I'll be right back," he says standing.
He walks down to where she's sitting and she looks up. He leans over placing his hands on the table, "Why are you sitting alone?"
"I don't know anyone," she says.
"I could introduce you to a few of the guys," Ghost says. She looks nervous all the sudden and turns her head away.
"If you're worried about that," he nods to her scar," There's no need to be."
She looks him right in the eyes and stands, "Okay." He walks her back down to where he was sitting with the other guys. She still sits a little ways away from them.
"Guys, this is..." Ghost just remembered he never asked for her name. He looks at her and she says her name just loud enough for him to hear. "This is [your name], everyone," he says then proceeds to introduce her to everyone.
He can tell she's still pretty uncomfortable and he sits next to her, "You'll be fine. I was the same way when I first got here, but now these people are like family."
"It'll just take some time, but thank you Lieutenant Riley."
"If we're going to be family you have to call me Ghost like everyone else."
She smiles.
"Okay...thank you..Ghost."