Hey guys, I know it's been a long time and you want me to update Foreign Emotions, but I'm sorta having complications with that one, and I've had this idea stuck in my head. This is after Loose Ends. Yes Ghost and Roach lived here, along with others.
Roach POV
Coffee, that's what he needed, coffee. Slowly Roach stood up from his chair in the chow hall to go and grab his cup, excusing himself quietly from the table he shared with Ghost and Soap. As he added his 5th packet of sugar he heard a sigh from behind him. Raising an eyebrow and did a double take to see one of the newer kids, probably about 24, waiting impatiently for his cup. He was about 5 foot 11, a shock of brown hair, with a faint shadow and a defined jaw that Roach couldn't help but feel drawn to, not to mention the electric blue eyes that glared at Roach with an evil eye. Just to piss the kid off more he turned around and ripped open another packet.
"Jesus, could you take any longer."
Gary sighed as he mixed in the sugar with a plastic spoon; slowly he turned around and gave the kid a once over. "Yeah, I could, now who the fuck do you think you are?"
The kid stopped for a moment as he truly got a good look at who he was talking to. Watching with a lame interest as the kid's eyes traced the scars and burns crossing his face, neck, and forearms, Roach grinned. "So honestly, who are you? I haven't seen you around."
"Um. Rico."
"Rico?"
"Yeah… Rico… I tend to have the right equipment when it's needed, like the penguin from the movie Madagascar… I didn't choose it…" When Gary didn't say anything in response he rubbed his neck in embarrassment, feeling like a child next to the veteran that stood before him. "You're Roach right?"
"Yeah well, starting to really hate that name… it's not always best to keep on living…" For a second Roach's eyes seemed to glaze over before he looked back at Rico. "Nice talkin' to ya Rico. Next time just wait in line for the damn coffee. It's not worth getting worked up about. It tastes like shit." And with that he walked back over to Ghost and Soap with his cup of coffee.
Rico POV
Rico stood for a moment watching Roach walk away.
"Damn, that guys hot." Forgetting about the coffee Rico's eyes moved along the tall and muscular frame. He couldn't help but notice he had a nice ass. "He's gotta be at least 6 foot 1." Rico shook himself angrily and rolled his eyes at himself. He still wasn't exactly happy with himself that he was gay. Sure the whole Don't Ask Don't Tell was gone and everything, but that didn't really help, people still felt awkward around gays. Walking back to the table with some of the other not so veterans consisting of Meat, Chemo, along with the experienced sniper team Archer and Toad, he couldn't help but notice the looks he was getting. As he sat down he addressed it, "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Archer, who had been in the 141 longer than the rest in the bunch eyed him. "Roach never was one to talk much. The only people he ever talks to is Ghost and Soap. The fact that he even acknowledged you was different for him. Honestly he's been different ever since the whole Shepard incident, but really who can blame him." As the rest of them nodded Rico only felt more confused. He had only arrived yesterday.
"What incident? I don't get why he's such a God besides the fact he's been here as long as Soap and Ghost." Archer sighed as he pulled out a cigarette.
"When he joined 4 years ago Ghost and Soap had immediately taken him under their wing so to speak. He was young, 24, and Roach you could say was a natural. Sure he sucks when it comes to jumping," at this Archer seemed to smile at an inside joke," but with everything else he's golden. The killing doesn't get to him, he's quiet, accurate, and can work under pressure. The guy can do anything. If Ghost is taken out Roach is next in line for defusing and hacking. Two years ago the old general, Shepard, was working for Shadow Company without anyone knowing. Soap was in a separate squad with Meat and Chemo. Only Roach was left from Ghost's squad. There were just too many people in Shadow Company for one sniper team to cover. With a message from Soap we weren't allowed to fire without good reason to keep our position secret. At one point Roach was shot in the leg. Ghost dragged him the rest of the way to Shepard where he handed over the objective. When Shepard shot Roach, Toad and I couldn't do anything when Shepard then shot Ghost. Both were then thrown into a pit where Shepard set them on fire. Gary was lucky and didn't get the worst of it. Ghost doesn't just wear that mask for intimidation anymore. With all said and done, those two are the toughest bastards you can find in the Task Force." Rico sat there for a moment as his mind tried to imagine what it had to have been like.
Toad shook his head. "When you're sitting there, watching your best friend getting burned, words cannot describe…" Archer bumped his friends with his shoulder, "War is hell mate."
"So Roach is 28 now, and he's already been through all of that?"
Toad huffed. "Fuck, he's still going. Actually he's going home on leave for the first time since he left for boot camp at 17."
Rico raised an eyebrow, "No shit?"
Meat shook his head, "This place is more of a home to him now than anywhere."
Sighing Rico stood up, "thanks guys. I think I'm gonna go work on the course for a bit." As he walked out of the hall he couldn't help but let his eyes linger to the veterans table where Roach sat.
Roach POV
Roach's eyes fallowed Rico as he walked out of the hall, jumping back to attention as Ghost snapped a pair of gloved fingers in front of his face.
"What?"
"Who you looking at?" Ghost fallowed Roach's eyes to Rico and back. "You got a thing for him don't you."
Roach glared at Ghost then at Soap when he heard a muffled laugh. Just the way Ghost had said it made him feel embarrassed. The only people that knew he was gay, lucky for him, was Ghost and Soap. Soap wasn't a problem, it was his best friend Ghost that he questioned.
With the blankest face he could muster he responded, "No."
"You do! Shit man, have you even talked to him?"
Roach visibly deflated as Ghost laughed, drawing some eyes in their direction.
"Come on Ghost keep it down."
"Or what, your reputation is blown? Come on man, stop acting like a hard ass."
"You act like a hard ass too!"
"Yeah but that's because I am a hard ass." Ghost stated cockily.
Gary huffed. "I just want to get to know him. Not that he would return the favor. He looks at me like I'm a freak or something."
At this point Soap joined the conversation, "Really Roach. It can't be that hard. Just talk to him. His file is pretty good. I can put him in the same squad as you and Ghost for the next mission if that'll help."
Roach could only glare at his two friends as Ghost nodded in agreement to the plan.
"Let's see what the kids got. Who knows, he might be as good as you Roach."
Groaning all Roach could do was lay his head in his arms as his friends laughed over him.