Training:

Ghost hated morning training sessions. It had started as a good idea. Morning training to keep everybody fit and improving. Then he noticed Roach liked to take his shirt off. It was very distracting.

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Ghost woke to the sound of his alarm and groaned. Another morning, another training session. Once upon a time, he'd thought it was a good idea to have these sessions to train and improve the team. Now however he found them highly distracting and the only thing it improved was his self-restraint.

But it was too late to turn back now. He had fought hard for these training sessions for months before Soap gave in. He wasn't about to give the Captain any satisfaction by cancelling them.

Sighing heavily he got up.

Outside, the team had already assembled in the still gloomy light. The sun was just starting to rise and before long it would be too hot to train. Being located in the desert wasn't ideal when it came to exercise but they made do with what they had. At least being in the middle of nowhere meant the air traffic was nonexistent. Ghost liked the quiet isolation.

"Alright, let's get to it lads. You know the drill, start running." They set off around the base. Running, combat and endurance. The key features of their training led to success. An hour later however the sun had cleared the horizon and it was too hot to continue. "Time to call it a day I think."

This was greeted with enthusiasm as everyone stopped.

And there was his reason for hating these training sessions. Standing talking to Poet, Roach was shirtless. He wasn't the only one, most of the team were quick to remove their shirts. But Roach was the only one who caused his stomach to flutter in a way it hadn't in years. Ghost had thought he was incapable of feeling attraction up until a few months ago.

He turned away, berating himself again for his reaction. It was stupid. Out of the whole world, why did he have to be attracted to one of his Sergeants? Not just his Sergeant, but an engaged one? It wasn't fair. Not that he expected Roach to return those feelings even if he was single. Ghost had long ago given up on the idea of relationships.

"Ghost?"

He started slightly and turned to find his worst fears confirmed. It was Roach. The younger man was stood just behind him, smiling. His cheeks were still flushed from the training and it made him look unbearably attractive. Ghost cleared his throat as it tightened.

"Yeah?"

Roach stepped closer. "Your fly's undone."

Ghost immediately looked down only to find it was fine. Roach however started laughing. "Oh very funny."

"Sorry." He chuckled. "Sometimes you're so easy to fool."

"Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to Sergeant?" Roach's expression immediately became sober. "Do you want me to give you extra laps tomorrow? Or would you rather clean the showers?"

"I-I mean..." Roach stammered, his hand nervously running through his hair.

Ghost clapped him on the shoulder. "Now who's the fool?"

His eyes widened in realisation then narrowed. "Asshole."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry I meant, you're an asshole, Sir."

Ghost nodded. "Better. Now put your shirt back on, it's distracting." He froze for a second as he realised he'd said that last part aloud. Roach was looking at him in confusion as if he too didn't believe what he'd heard. "Shirt on Roach and go shower." Ghost said firmly before walking away.

Idiot. He was a fucking idiot.

What the hell had he been thinking? Well, that was obvious, he hadn't been at all.

Ghost hid out in his office for the rest of the day, keen to avoid Roach. It was just as well because the paperwork in his in-tray was astronomical. With most of it done, Ghost retired for the day.

The next morning as training started, Ghost kept his eyes averted from Roach. Maybe he would just forget what he'd said, that was certainly what Ghost was trying to do. Once training was over and everyone had gone back inside, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Ghost?"

So no, Roach wasn't going to let it go. "What's up?" He asked in a forced casual tone, but he didn't turn around.

"If I ask you something, will you answer honestly?" He felt Roach hand on his shoulder and turned around. He was surprised to see he had his shirt on. Roach looked at him with such an intensity it made his stomach lurch. "Please?"

"Ok."

He nodded and looked away. After a moment he asked quietly, "Are you attracted to me?" Ghost didn't know how to answer so didn't. Finally, Roach looked at him again and stepped closer. They were almost touching now. "You promised." He said softly.

"Yes." The word slipped out unwillingly but what good would denying it be? Roach clearly knew anyway. Then Ghost pulled himself together and stepped back. "Showers, Roach." He walked away again.

Ghost was dreading training the next morning, had even considered going to Soap and calling the whole thing off. But when he got there and found Roach wasn't there he only felt relief. It was only afterwards he wondered where the other man was. So he went to his room and knocked. When Roach answered, he smiled.

"Hey."

"You know training's mandatory, right?"

Roach raised an eyebrow and opened the door a little wider. He was only wearing boxers. Ghost closed his eyes for a moment and forced himself not to think about it and keep his mind clear.

"I'm sorry, let me make it up to you." Before Ghost could object Roach had grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Sit," he instructed and Ghost did. Then Roach was sat on his lap and smiled. "I've been wanting to do this for ages." His hands were under Ghost's shirt now, pulling it up.

"Arent you engaged?" Ghost managed to ask. He was finding it hard to speak. The rush of emotions he felt was making his head spin. As if on autopilot he lifted his arms so his shirt could be removed.

"No. I called it off months ago."

"Why?"

"Because I realised I wanted you." Roach let out a shaky breath, his fingers slipping under Ghost's balaclava. "I wanted you more than my relationship. Even if I thought you wouldn't feel the same. But you do, don't you?"

His eyes were burning with a hope that made Ghost's heart feel like it was beating for the first time in years. "I do."

"Then shut up and kiss me."

Any self-restraint Ghost still had was immediately broken. With the balaclava gone, he kissed Roach emphatically as if he hadn't kissed someone in years which was true. Self-control out of the window it didn't take long for the clothes to be gone. Sex was something Ghost hadn't thought about in a long time. Like a lot of things, he didn't find it necessary in his line of work so hadn't bothered trying. He hadn't been attracted to anyone enough to consider sex, at least he hadn't before Roach. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd done this, too long ago.

Things were different with Roach.

Every touch, every kiss felt like a fire that burned fiercely in his chest and it wasn't enough. Was this what people called passion? It must be because Ghost felt ridiculously happy now he had Roach in his arms, his name spilling from his lips. Roach was so warm, so inviting and willing that Ghost was sure he was dreaming.

Surely the alarm was about to go off and wake him? But it didn't.

Afterwards, as they lay in bed together panting, Ghost ran a finger down Roach's chest. "Never put a shirt on during training again."

Roach laughed. "Only if you never wear that balaclava when it's just me and you." He reached out, hand cupping the side of Ghost's face. "You're so fucking good looking it's making it hard to think."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." Ghost kissed him, long and hard. "I've not been this happy in years." He confessed.

"Stay with me?"

"Always." Ghost promised. And he knew, that no matter what happened, as long as he had Roach everything would be ok.