A/N: Huh, been a awhile since I've posted any Ghost/Roach, huh? Anyway, yeah, I'm more than two weeks late, and this has nothing to do with Valentine's Day but the fact this fic contains romance (?) would be sufficient enough for it to qualify as a Valentine's fic. I wrote it down pretty quick, too, and 'm quite lazy to look through it for any errors.
Contains M/M. Slash. Gay. Whatever, you've been warned: no like, no read.
Seeing Roach slur and gurgle with the glass in his hands made the edge of Ghost's lips quirk upwards into a small smirk. Though MacTavish claimed Roach was a pain in the arse when he was drunk, Meat and Royce claimed he was hilarious to watch and listen to, so Ghost had no qualms about bringing the young sergeant to the bar for his own amusement.
"Ooooof," Roach leaned forward, his arm stretching across the countertop as he tried to grab for the bottles on the racks, which were, of course, way out of his reach. "W-Whyy can't I…get another glaaasss?"
The bartender watched the drunken blond with a neutral expression, hands subconsciously wiping a glass clean with a small rag. He glanced at Ghost, facial expression unchanging. The bartender remained silent, waiting for the lieutenant to either present another bill or initiate his and the sergeant's departure.
Ghost responded with a grim smile and decided to go with the latter. Clamping a hand on Roach's shoulder, he shook him gently, but his voice firm. "Alright, Bug, you're obviously shit-faced, so let's get back to base, ay? No more drinks for you."
Roach squinted and frowned, as though half displeased and half confused, but didn't argue as the older man slid off the stool and took a few steps ahead, before looking over his shoulder to make sure Roach was following. Ghost waited as the sergeant stumbled from his seat, yet somehow managed to retain his balance. Well, balance sufficent enough to stop him from tumbling over. His body still swayed as he followed the other to the door.
The base wasn't far from the bar, so the two men walked back. They walked side by side in the cold night, guided by street lights and the pavement leading up to the gate of their base, the bright stars in the dark-blue sky going unnoticed. It was deadly quiet, which was strange since Ghost was actually expecting Roach to talk his ears off, especially with how he was walking.
"You know what, Ghost?" Roach mumbled, a smile playing across his face as Ghost's eyes met his in a questioning glance. "I like you. I reeaally do."
Ghost raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Roach's small smile became wider, and for a moment Ghost admired his boyish good looks. "I dunno, you're just… perfect. How you handle yourself under stress, how you carry out missions, how you're basically so good at everything...can't help but admire, mate, really…" He coughed, and chortled.
Ghost allowed himself a few moments to take in the sight and sound of Roach's laugh, before wagging his head. "Aha, thanks. Though I don't fancy myself an idol or someone anyone wants to be, I—"
"Oh, but I don't see you just in that way," Roach interrupted, his words slurred, smile breaking into a charming grin. "I like you, Ghost. Can never get enough of your voice. Or your arse. Love how you talk to me. Love to imagine how your lips move underneath that mask. How you look out for me since I have a knack for getting in trouble. Aaand today's the first time I've seen you without you mask and…the first thing I thought was…holy shit you are fucking gorgeous."
Ghost stared, unsure how his face looked like at the time, but almost sure it was incredulity, embarrassment and on the brink of laughter at the same time. In the end, he decided to just wag his head.
"What?" Roach asked, frowning a bit, unable to comprehend.
"I'll have a good time teasing you in the morning, mate," Ghost replied, smirk lingering on his face when he turned and looked at Roach as they approached the gates of their base.
"Ohh, you're smiling…" Roach pointed out, and his already-flushed face became a shade darker. He said with a growing grin. "MacTavish told me you didn't liiike to smile. And I never actually took you for one who'd do it, either, but…fuck, you're attractiive when you do that. You should smile more often..."
Ghost laughed this time, amused and entertained so much his smile just grew wider. Meat and Royce were correct, and he could imagine now how humiliated Roach would be in the morning. At this point they walked past the gates and into the base, heading for the main building.
"Wish I could tell you eeveryday that you sweep me off my feet," Roach frowned slightly. He looked childish and quite adorable whenever he did that. "But then I can't. You'd think I'm weird."
Ghost was taken aback at this, cocked a brow and stared at the sergeant for a few seconds. He didn't take any of Roach's slurring seriously—he had considered them just drunken nonsense, but now, after what Roach had said, he had second thoughts. Was it an actual confession? If it was…
Unwilling to finish that notion, he looked down at his wristwatch. A quarter to two in the morning. Everybody should be asleep, he thought, and glanced over at Roach. Without a word, they entered the silent building, but instead of parting ways, Ghost led Roach to the sergeant's bedroom since he was almost sure that if he didn't he'd find Roach on the floor of the rec-room next morning.
Before long they were in front of Roach's bedroom door, and the lieutenant gave Roach a small smile.
"Have a good sleep, Bug, you'll need it," he said, indulging in the thoughts of Roach's mortification and all the other members laughing at what his drunken logic had driven him to say.
"Mmm, g'nighht," Roach murmured, but not before grabbing Ghost wrist and pulling him forward to plant a sloppy—yet firm—kiss on his cheek.
Ghost stood there, slightly leaned forward, mouth agape and eyes wide. Roach gave him an innocent, goofy smile, and entered his bedroom, not noticing the pink blush that graced the pallor of Ghost's face.
The next morning, Roach groaned as he entered the rec-room and slumped down on the sofa, hands massaging his temples. "Dammit, Ghost, thanks for the hangover," he groused, staring irritatedly at his lieutenant, who was across the room, sitting on a wooden chair.
Ghost looked up from his book. He flashed a smile. "You're welcome. In fact, any time you want a drink, you're welcome to ask me."
Roach paused, and arched a blond eyebrow. That was uncharateristic of him. His quiet, stoic superior suddenly smiling and friendly to him? "What? Why?"
Ghost closed his book and his lips parted into a small grin. "I like hearing you talk."
There were a few seconds of silence, but those words hit Roach like bombshell. Remembering how much shit Meat and Royce gave him the last time he got drunk, he wondered what he had said last night that got his possibly-insane-and-sadistic lieutenant so amused.
He sighed and shook his head. "Damn. I don't remember what I said last night, but…" Roach looked at him pleadingly, his face red from embarrassment. "Could you just…forget it? Or don't tell anyone, because…well, fuck, I say stupid things when I'm shitfaced."
"I sure as hell wouldn't tell anyone, mate," Ghost grinned, standing up.
Roach watched curiously as the lieutenant crossed the room, and became a bit alarmed when he realized Ghost was approaching him, and, yes, the sergeant flinched when Ghost bended down and brushed his lips against the side of his clean-shaven face.
He also positively froze—if the surprise kiss on the cheek wasn't surprise enough—when Ghost's hot breath blew against his ear, and his silky voice whispered, "It's our little secret, eh?"
With a smug chuckle, Ghost stood up and walked out of the rec-room, leaving Roach flustered and speechless and happy, and also still wondering what the fuck came out his mouth when he was wasted last night.
A/N: I guess it's safe to say this was written especially for Boopem and Ashley (anon) since I know they both like Ghost/Roach.
Don't forget to review! :)