You woke up without much ceremony as you felt your body getting dragged out from the backseat of the truck. It took far too long to even register that you were in the truck and everything seemed jumbled together, Las Almas, the church, Ghost.
That's when it finally dawned on you who was throwing you over their shoulder like a hefty bag of potatoes, no princess carry for you, he wouldn't be able to hold a pair of throwing knives if he hadn't slung you over his shoulder. The sharp buckles of his vest dug into your side right where you had been shot.
"Where are we?" -Soap, so all three of you made it out alive then.
"Alejandro's safehouse." Ghost answered, his voice low and somewhat labored due to dragging you around. "Gave me the location just in case."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"It was need to know."
"What if I needed to know?" Soap huffed, they were at it again.
You groaned, gripping the back of Ghost's vest and trying to prop yourself up to see around. It looked like you three had made it out into the country. There was a cool light, the kind that told you dawn was only another thirty minutes out.
"-Shh" Ghost warned both of you.
The world spun as Ghost went down on one knee to inspect the ground.
"Pressure plate" Soap observed, always the world narrator.
"Alejandro rigged it."
"Smart bastard."
"Ghost" you groaned between clenched teeth. Your fight to stay awake was renewed but you could still feel your hot blood between your fingers, soaking through Ghost's gear now.
"There" he said, ignoring you as he pointed out an unfinished window that was not rigged with a nasty surprise for you.
Your vision went blurry again as the boys got a move on, Soap leading the way and leaping through the window with a practiced grace. Ghost followed behind quite a bit less elegantly as he had to maneuver you through the window with him and drop to the ground.
Another sharp pain.
"Don't move" Ghost barked and the sharp whistle of a blade leaving his hand rang through the building before landing with a thumb in a wood beam.
In response you got spanish.
"Quien esta ahi?"
It took you a second but Soap beat you to the punch.
"Rudolfo!"
"Soap!" you were relieved to hear it was Alejandro's right hand man. "Ghost! You're alive!"
"Affirmative, and one more" Ghost grunted as he put you down, propped up against a straw bail so you could sit up.
"Fuck you too" you grumbled in response to his non verbal complaint as you clench your side to staunch the bleeding.
"Good to see you, amigos," Rudolfo said, pulling Ghosts' knife so he could hand it back to him.
"Igual, amigo" Soap returned and you had to chuckle under your breath at his awkward spanish, he had really taken to it.
"Nice throw" Rudolfo said as he handed off the black steel hilt first. "Where were you guys?"
"On the run," Ghost answered vaguely.
"I was on the run, they waited for me," Soap jumped in.
"Of course, no?" Rodolfo said with a shrug, loyalty and camaraderie was expected under Alejandro, he inspired it.
"No" Soap said.
"Yes," Ghost corrected, looking over to his brother in arms, "We're a team, all of us. This happened on my watch and I'll need help to fix it, no one fights alone" then his skull mask turned down to you.
"Why did Graves turn?" Rudolfo asked, bringing the Lieutenants' attention back up to him.
"We don't know," Ghost answered, his voice turning dark at the man's name.
"Las Almas can corrupt anyone" the latino suggested as an excuse for the commander.
"Not us" Soap argued, still idyllic.
"For now, General Shepherd, Laswell and anyone else outside of this room is considered hostile," Ghost decided, his voice turning commanding, it seemed he took well to leadership "With one exception."
"Alejandro?" you asked from the floor. Not being a core member of the 141 but part of an ever replaceable rotating cast of soldiers it wasn't uncommon for you to fall in the background to just wait for orders.
All you got in response was a quick nod from Soap.
"We need him back," Ghost said.
"Venir" Rodolfo said headed to the back of the old barn, you barely had a chance to look around the place now that your head wasn't threatening to spin off.
As Ghost turned to you to scoop an arm behind you and pull you up on your feet you looked around. It was old, musty, but gloriously warm and felt safe. This building had been used for a couple of decades without being torn down by corruption.
You winced as you straightened up and Ghost started following after Rudolfo and Soap.
"Still leaking on us?" Ghost asked, almost sounding annoyed that you hadn't magically healed by now.
"Did I miss the part where you bothered to patch me up?" you hissed sarcastically between your teeth.
Rudolfo flipped on a light at a small desk that had a map and a couple of photos spread haphazardly around it.
"Graves is holding him here." The man said pointing to the map, it was covered in labels and as you deciphered the mix of English and Spanish you realized it was Alejandro's old base of operation, now taken over by Graves.
"His own personal black site prison." Soap observed.
Ghost had come to a stop at the edge of the table with you still holding up most of your weight while keeping you on your feet.
"My team is locked in there too." Rudolfo agreed.
"How do we get them back?"
"By breaking in," Ghost said as if his usual methods were obvious.
"And that's why I love the Ghost" Soap said with his usual cheeky grin.
"It's gonna take more than this" you pointed out nodding to the single handgun and odd rounds of ammunition scattered on the table.
Rudolfo turned to a large door sliding it open to reveal a low lit caged armory.
"It's well stocked, we even have a med kit." Rudolfo said, making the understatement of the century.
You'd seen whole military bases with less heat in store.
"Alright" Ghost said with a nod, you could see a plan starting to form in his mind.
"My man," Soap said, impressed. "We're gonna need new wheels, preferably up-armored"
Rudolfo tossed Ghost a ring of keys that you ended up catching before he could. Soap and Ghost exchanged a look over your head while the third man flipped a giant switch that had a row of lights flashing on, one after the other, to reveal a military issue humvee at the end of the barn.
"Alejandro thought of everything" Ghost said, clearly taking a shine to the man.
"Yeah he did" You agreed as all four of you walked towards the armored vehicle.
"Lets go get him" Soap said, itching to get started as you gathered back around the table.
Soap pulled out a chair for you and Ghost settled you down into it, surprisingly gentle for a man who seemed like he was hard as nails.
A large white plastic case thumped on the table as Rudolfo brought out the kit for you.
"Finally" you ground, the closest you'd come to a thank you while half out of it. "Please tell me you have the good stuff in there."
"Only the best" Rudolfo said as he unlatched the case, tossing you a paper square of individually paged pain meds. You were distracted grabbing for it that you didn't quite notice Ghost grabbing your blood soaked vest to unbuckle it for you.
There was more pain as it seemed the fitted armor was actually doing some work supporting your side to hide the pain.
"Lay off" Ghost dismissed your paint lifting your black shirt a few inches to expose the wound. The context was far different but it was hard to forget that wasn't the first time that night he went looking under your shirt.
It's just this time you had an audience.
You kept your face straight with the standard issue military professionalism and Rudolfo tossed out a few more bags from where they were neatly organized in the med kit. Soap slid them over to Ghost more focused on the map than the amateur med bay that was being set up. Gunshot wounds weren't exactly rare in this company.
"It went all the way through" you said to Ghost though you doubted that he missed the two new holes in you. It was a blessing since he wouldn't have to dig around in the wound with some forceps to look for metal. He ripped open a plastic envelope and the sharp eye watering smell of medical alcohol met you, your least favorite part.
Aside from getting shot.
And bullet digging.
And stitches.
You know what? Scratch that, the whole experience was your least favorite part.
"The old prison is in a remote area outside Las Almas," Rudolfo got started on planning as Ghost patched you up, running the cleansing whip over the bullet wound and having to go through several wads of gauze to clean up the blood enough so he could see what was going on.
"It was maximum security until the narcos took over, and it was permanently closed." Rudolfo gave the load down. "There is no airstrip but expect helios for security and resupplies."
"We'll drive to an offset and ruck up to our infil- here" Ghost said pointing to an area with his elbow as he opened another steril bag, this one with a needle already threaded.
"If security towers are manned we'll need to take them out first and rope the wall for entry" You added in, if he could multitask so could you. Besides, it was a welcome distraction as Ghost knelt in front of you and prepared for the unpleasant task of sewing you back up.
"What about cameras?" Soap asked across the table.
"There's CCTV's in the security room," Rudolfo answered.
"We'll use them to locate Alejandro and the rest of your men" Ghost said, taking the negative and turning it into an advantage.
You hissed a breath through your teeth as Ghost made his first tie off in your skin. He had clearly done this a few times.
"Let's divide and conquer," Soap suggested, clearly feeling more confident after his little solo stunt. "While Rudy finds Al, I'll use the cams to help Ghost plant charges in key areas." Sounded like Soap was on a roll with new nicknames.
"Diversions and sabotage," You gather from Soap's idea of doing your best to not make a face at the continual stabbing.
"Nice, Johnny" Ghost agreed to the plan before putting his hand at the small of your back with a little pressure to move you forward so he could get to the exit wound. "Glass here stays with me."
You glanced back, a little surprised at the new nickname Ghost had come up for you. He didn't seem to find it noteworthy as he focused on the sutures.
"I learned from the best, Lt" Soap said, not reacting at all to the nickname either.
Glass, huh, you wondered what exactly inspired that.
"Once we pinpoint Alejandro and Los Vaqueros, we regroup and pry 'em loose"
"We'll carry extra guns in to arm my men and fight our way out the way we came in," Rudolfo added.
"Any questions?" Ghost asked as he reached out for another few alcohol wipes to clean up his work.
"What are we waiting for?" Soap asked with a grin.
"Nightfall " Ghost answered, dawn was not the time to attack.
Rudolfo and Soap nodded their agreement.
"We'll rest up and back up for now." Ghost added and grabbed a large cotton pad and some medical tape to cover up your wound.
"I'll be up and running by them" you agree, somewhat to yourself. Even running at 100% Ghost wasn't easy to keep up with so you had to hope you'll be up and at 'em by then.
As Ghost finished up he pulled your shirt back down. There was a touch again. Another brush of his calloused fingertips at the edge of your waistband this time at your back. The Lt was really stealing your moves.
You looked up at him and at least had the decency to contain a blush, he did get a smile, and a genuine one at that.
"Thanks Lt" you said, keeping to his rank now that it wasn't your goal to rile him up.
He had gotten back on his feet to pile up the used bags and gauze that you had bleed through.
"Don't mention it" he said curtly, and you had a feeling he really did not want any of the fanfare that came with appreciation, typical. His stoic dismissal made it all too tempting to bother him.
"I'll grab some cots out of the armory, it's no 5 star hotel but it's something" Rudolfo said leaving the three of you to it as he went in the small room.
"Beats straw" Soap agreed plopping down in a second wood chair, though unlike yours it creaked in protest.
"Roll around in the hay a lot?" you asked him with a grin to match his own, Soap was easy to banter with. It was obvious why even Ghost enjoyed the younger soldier.
"Sheep fuckers" Ghost agreed with you.
"Aye aye, that's the Welsh. I expected as much from Glass but not from'a Britt" Soap defended himself.
"Isn't Scotland still part of Britain?" you get back at him, much to your mistake. Both men looked at you with a decent helping of disgust, guess you hit a nerve.
"You owe us a scotch for that," Soap said with a shake of his head.
"Best we could do around here is Tequila," Ghost complained.
"That's my que" Rudolfo returned from the overstocked storage closet, a few cots tucked up under his arm and a dusty half drunk bottle of tequila in hand.
Ghost groaned dismissively, not a fan of tequila then.
"I need a night cap" You said all too eager. "Looks like it's a little too strong for these two."
Soap made a sound of protest and Rudolfo slid the bottle over the cluttered table in your direction so he could set down the cots. You opened the bottle and without much ceremony took a large gulp ready for the lick of fire that ran down your throat. Tequila smelled like stupid night but man it was a good distraction from getting shot, and the large man beside you.
You set the bottle down in front of Ghost but before he could even refuse Soap had grabbed it, needing to redeem himself in front of Rudolfo. The sentiment was lost then he coughed after a large gulp to rival your own. It made you laugh but you instantly regretted it when your side flared up with pain.
"Are you going to ready?" Ghost asked, seeing your reaction, sudden doubt flowing in his voice in your ability to complete the mission tomorrow.
"I won't slow you down" you answer stubbornly grabbing for the bottle again but Ghost grabbed it first, using the lip of the bottle to hook his mask and drink. It caught Rudolfos attention as he had never seen even part of Ghost's face before and even Soap glanced over, trying to act uninterested. He swallowed without even a wince and handed you back the bottle that you took a short drink from and set it back down. Soap slid it down to Rudolfo and Ghost walked around the table to grab the pile of folded cots. It looked like he wasn't up for socializing but who could have guessed that.
"I'll help you out Ghost" Rudolfo said, grabbing two of the cots, clearly wanting to get a closer look at the Lt as we set up.
"Hand me back the bottle then Soap" you said and noticed Ghost look back, his eyes squinted in warning. "Lay off" you grumble.
"Part of the team then Glass?" Soap asked as he handed over the tequila. The nickname all but confirmed it and you shrugged in response.
"Not sure where it came from," you said honestly.
"You're scrappy" Soap answered, sometimes it seemed he was the only one who actually understood what was going on in Ghost' head, though you had gotten a glimpse of it earlier.
"What is "Glass" even about" you wonder out loud but for all Soap's insights on the Lieutenant he didn't seem to have any idea about that either. You'd have to ask the man himself later.
"That didn't take long" Soap said as Rudolfo returned to the table.
"Camps set, Ghost headed outside" the man said as he sat down.
That info had you raising a brow and looking over to Ghost. He also shrugged and so you huffed, standing up. Your nose twitched at the uncomfortable, not quite painful, feeling of the stitches pulling at your skin as you stood up.
"I'll make sure he doesn't get lost" you said to the boys before heading out, choosing to climb through the same window you came in on Ghost's shoulder to avoid Alejandro's handy work.
In the time you had all been hauled up the barn it had lightened up outside. It was still early, probably somewhere around 6am, and too soon for anyone to be out. Looking around it seemed that wouldn't be an issue either way. With the exception of the getaway truck and some wood fencing this barn was the only sign of civilization for at least 10 clicks.
It took some time before you found any sign of Ghost. After doing a quick perimeter around the barn with no luck you started towards the grouping of gnarled old trees, it was the only spot he could be hauled up. It wasn't your intention to sneak up on the spot but it was hard to shake the habit of taking silent steps. Without anything to drown out the sounds you heard Ghost before you saw him.
He was up to something for sure.
You didn't come right up on his spot. You saw him from the side first. He was facing a tree, leaned up against it with his forehead leaning on his arm to support himself. It was still cool out so his breath billowed through his mouth in short, hot, gasps. His back was curled forward, shoulders rounded, and muscles taught while he pumped his hard cock. He had rolled up his shoulders so you could see his sleeve tattoo and the sinewy muscle that caused it to ripple like a live painting.
It was a delicious sight. What enhanced it more was his low moans, they sounded more desperate than they had with you. Oh this poor beautifully broken bastard.
As much as you wanted to watch him, probably forever, you felt bad peeping on him. Especially when he looked so raw. You intentionally stepped on a stick as you came around the tree to stand where he could see you, not quite intruding on his space.
"No need to announce yourself, darling" he ground out between breaths, turning his head to look over at you. All you could see were his eyes of course but fuck, he looked hungry.
"Putting on a show for me then?" you asked and damn it but you sounded breathless already. The Lt already had an ego, you didn't have to add to it.
"I didn't invite" he started but groaned half way through his eyes flickering "your smart mouth."
"Pitty," you said with a sly grin, "it's smart and talented."
His only response was a low groan, his eyes still on you. Suddenly you felt like you were the one with the show to put on. You walked closer to him, still pacing yourself, braced for him to tell you to fuck off. He didn't protest though and he didn't stop running his rough hand over his wet cock so once you were right next to him you ran the tips over your fingers over his bare forearm, with the lightest touch of your nails.
Even bent over Ghost was massive. Most men that stood that tall were lanky but he had broad shoulders and a wide muscled chest. At your touch he shivered. You had noticed that earlier, the way he reacted when you touched him softly. The way he tried to imitate that same touch for you as if testing new waters.
You wondered if war and knives were the only touch he knew. No, he definitely fucked like someone who had fucked before.
Suddenly he pushed off the tree and grabbed you by the throat, putting you between him and the tree as he pumped his cock faster. His hand was rough on your throat and he squeezed off your air with a bruising touch. You reached up for his arm but didn't pry him off or struggle. You held yourself steady. Something about his eyes told you he wasn't trying to kill you.
You could see hate there but it wasn't hate for you. Tears welled up in your eyes and he loosened his fingers just enough for you to take a gasping breath.
"Lt" you whimpered, the shortest thing you could say before it was cut off.
"No" he ground, his voice sounding like stone on stone, he was close "Say my name" he demanded loosening his grip around your throat again, expecting you to comply.
"Simon" you whimpered with a broken voice. Despite the fact that you were pinned to the tree, hardly able to breath, while this self described reaper used you to jerk one out, you couldn't help but feel incredibly wound up yourself. It was messy and fucked up and fuck if it wasn't hot. "Simon please" you whimper again.
His head dropped down as he moaned again.
"Fuck, Glass" he almost roared, the trees dampening everything so it felt as if the two of you were the only people left. You could hear he needed you, needed to own you, to name you. He was broken and sick but it was intoxicating.
"Simon" you beg and he squeezes your throat off again, this time feeling dangerously like he would snap your neck as he pumped his cock until a string of hot cum shot between your legs on the thin damp grass. It took a few more pumps before he finally seemed spent, shaking as he stood in front of you.
You tapped your hand against his arm, unable to make a sound and running out of air. He looked up and waited a second, his eyes locked on yours, before finally relaxing his fingers until his hand just lightly rested on your collar bone.
You were both gasping for air as your eyes stayed locked, both of you on stand still waiting for the other to say the first word.
"Why" you said between breaths "why Glass?"
He looked at you, his eyes flicking between yours, searching. You felt like he was almost disappointed, like he needed you to understand without him having to say a word. It was like the only way he could peel back even the thinnest layer of himself was when he saw that part in you.
"Because I'm fragile?" you ask seeing as he was struggling to find the words. You wanted to help him but the bastard had to open his mouth.
"You're a soldier" you responded, sounding annoyed with your accusation. He finally tucked his cock back into his BDU's and pulled the zipper up, his hands lingering on your exposed collar bone.
"Use your words, Ghost" you pushed, sensing that using his name again would be pushing him a little too hard. The poor man needed you to be gentle with him from time to time.
"A mirror" he answered curtly and when your brow rose in confusion he said again "you're a mirror."
"What's that supposed to mean?" you asked, genuinely confused.
An elaborate explanation was not in the books today.
"It's a nickname" he bit out "don't make a deal out of it."
"Yeah, a nickname. They are supposed to mean something," you retort, not satisfied with his snippy attitude.
"Fuck then" he said towering over you "you don't need one"
"I don't know if Johnny is gonna let it go so fast" you respond, feeling like a brat again.
His hand shot out and he grabbed your jaw, holding it tight so he could keep your face angled up to his.
"The last thing I want is someone else's name on your lips right now, darling," he ground out in frustration. He was so pissed he didn't even have room to question why that was.
Your eyes stayed locked on his, waiting for him to continue with his threats and anger.
"Fuck, you piss me off" he growled his eyes narrowed at your silence. His other hand came up and he ran his fingers over the top of your cheek and then over your lips, as if he couldn't help himself. It was confusing. He looked confused too.
"We should head back" you say, mostly for his sake. He needed an out before he completely lost it.
"Yeah" he agrees but his fingers didn't stop exploring, his eyes following their path.
"Simon" you say, to get through his thick skull. He lets go of your face but doesn't step back.
You huff looking up at him.
"You're a mess" you say, exasperated.
"Makes two of us," he returned.
