Ghost was bored.

It had been almost a month since he'd sent Roach home to heal up after the favela. He hated how much he missed the other man.

Soap was having a great time badgering him over it, most likely payback for the broken nose. So when he walked into the office he wasn't surprised by the cheerful greeting. "Morning sunshine, how'd you sleep?"

"Fine." He sat down and sighed at the pile of paperwork on his desk. "Do you actually do any paperwork?"

"Why would I when I have you?" He grinned and folded his arms behind his head. "So... I noticed you've been a bit down the past week."

Ghost ignored him and began flipping through the papers.

"Seems to coincide with a certain bug's disappearance." Soap got up with a groan and sat on the edge of his desk. "We're gonna have to talk about it eventually. You disobeyed orders, broke my nose and went back for him."

"What's your point?" Ghost snapped, instantly defensive. "He would've died if I stayed!"

Soap didn't seem perturbed by the sudden aggression. In fact, he started to grin.

"Give over." He looked at the paperwork again, berating himself for getting so wound up.

"Truth be told, I'm kind of surprised. I've never seen you so flustered before."

"I'm not-" Ghost stopped and sighed. Was there any point in trying to hide the truth when Soap had already guessed it? "It's not like I'm going around groping him or abusing my position so let it drop. I have no intention of doing anything about it."

"Aye mate, thought you'd say that." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Soap considering him. "Maybe you should do something about it."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I'm not saying force Roach into anything but if you're both willing, why not?"

"Maybe because he's a Sergeant? Or did you forget that? If anyone found out we'd both be fired." The papers Ghost was supposedly reading fell to the floor as his hand gave a sudden jerk. "I'm not interested in a quick fuck."

"You saying you love him?" Soap's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"No, I'm saying I don't know what I feel." He got up, too agitated to continue sitting at the desk and began pacing. "I can't get him out of my head, no matter how hard I try. He makes me feel alive in a way I can't explain and it's..." He stopped, for the first time actually considering a relationship with Roach. "You know me Soap, I'd fuck him over in the end. I'm no good at-"

He was thankfully saved by Price who paused in the doorway, looking between them. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Nah, just a little heart to heart." Soap winked at Ghost and got to his feet. "What did the Americans want?"

"Our help obviously." Price dropped a folder onto his desk and opened it. Curious, the other two men came over to look. Price pointed at the portfolio on the first page. "His name's Manuel Roba, a drug lord in Mexico who's recently expanded into human trafficking. Marines are having a hard time nailing him to the wall. I believe he's also the unnamed cartel Makarov has ties with that Rojas was talking about."

"So what's the plan?"

"Ghost, you're fluent in Spanish, correct?"

"Yeah."

Price nodded. "Then you're heading the operation. I've got a recommendation but it's your choice."

"Lay it out."

"Take Roach with you, we've got solid intel that Roba likes young, fair-haired men. He'd provide a good distraction if he agrees."

For a moment, Ghost was too angry to speak. Using Roach as a honey trap was a horrible idea. Not only would he be in unnecessary danger but the thought of him parading around and flirting with this man made him irrationally resentful. He let out a deep sigh and spread his hands on the desk, forcing his voice to remain calm.

"And if Roach says no?" Which he fervently hoped he would.

"Then you can figure out a new plan." Price tapped the folder. "Everything we know is in here, I suggest you study this."

"Already on it." He picked up the folder and tucked it under his arm. "I'll see you later."

"Hey, we're not done yet!" Ghost flipped Soap off over his shoulder as he left. He had no intention of finishing their conversation.

Ghost avoided Soap over the next few days, keen not to bring up Roach again. Unfortunately, his new focus meant he had to think about the Sergeant, if only in the context of their mission together. He was sitting in the office, trying to decide how to go about interrogating Roba once he got his hands on him when Soap walked in.

"I got some calls to make, you good?"

"Go for it."

He didn't pay much attention as Soap called a couple of people, still focusing on the details in front of him.

"Roach!" Ghost looked up so fast he felt dizzy. Soap noticed and smirked but continued, "How's my little bug doing?"

He could just make out Roach's voice through the phone and was hit with such a powerful ache in his chest. How was it possible to miss someone this much?

"Aww, you'll be back soon enough don't you worry." Soap laughed. "How're the injuries?" He waggled his eyebrows at Ghost, pointing to the phone and then him. After a moment of internal struggle, he nodded. "Good to hear lad."

Ghost had gotten up and was standing next to Soap now. "Are you going to give me the phone or what?"

"Alright, alright. Gotta go bug, someone's been missing you and wants to talk." Soap kissed down the phone and handed it over.

"How are you feeling?" Ghost retreated to his desk, turning so he didn't have to look at Soap's smirk.

"I'm alright, how are things there?"

The tension in his body eased immediately at the sound of Roach's voice. If it wasn't such a relief, Ghost would've been worried. "Boring without you." He spoke truthfully, unable to hide it from the other man.

"Two weeks and counting. So why the call?"

Ghost sighed, turning to flip Soap off as he laughed. "Just checking in, being a good Lieutenant is all. I know you weren't happy about being sent him so I wanted to see how you feel now."

"I'm good, really. Thank you. I didn't realise how much I missed my family. Always know best huh?"

He was smiling, Ghost could hear it in his voice. God how he missed that smile.

"Of course, that's why I'm your superior." He laughed, feeling a lot better than he had in weeks. Roach just lifted his spirits like that. He tried not to think about it too hard. "So listen to me more often."

"Only if you stop talking shit." They were both laughing now.

"Gary, what are you doing?" There was the sound of another man in the background and he heard Roach start, the phone scraping against his clothing. "It's late."

"Uh, I'll be there in a minute."

"What's wrong, your boyfriend calling you back to bed?" Ghost teased, hoping desperately it wasn't true.

It was though. There was the unmistakable sound of a kiss over the line and the man spoke again. "Come back to bed, babe."

Babe.

The word cut into Ghost like a knife.

"Yeah in a minute." Gary sighed, sounding put out. "Ghost?"

"He's right, you should go. Don't keep your boyfriend waiting."

Was he really jealous? For the sake of his pride, he wouldn't answer that. Roach was at perfect liberty to kiss or sleep with whomever he wanted, Ghost had absolutely no claim over him. But still, it felt like a betrayal.

Before he could spiral further, Roach responded. "He's not my boyfriend." Somehow that simple statement made it all better and Ghost found he could breathe again. "He's just..."

"You don't need to explain. Who you sleep with on your own time is none of my business."

"He's shit in bed."

Now that made Ghost smile.

"I wish I hadn't slept with him. He didn't even get me off."

"Well, next time pick someone who cares about your dick too." He felt too good to keep the teasing out of his voice.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Seriously, sex is better when it's with someone you love."

"How would you know that? You've never loved anyone."

Not for a long time now. Not until Roach had walked into his life. Was it love? He still wasn't sure. For now, however, in the comfort of their conversation, Ghost could agree to love.

"That's not true."

"Who are you in love with then?"

"Classified." Roach huffed. "Besides, I can tell you from experience just about anything is better with someone you care about so why would sex be different?"

"I'll just have to take your word for it." Roach sighed. "Ugh, I'm going home and showering. Remind me to wait until I'm in a loving relationship for sex."

Ghost hummed, smiling absently to himself. "Alright. Hurry up and run, bug. If you're not fast enough he'll ask for a second round."

"The horror."

"Goodnight Roach. I'll see you in two weeks."

"I'm already counting down the days."

Ghost ended the call, still smiling.

"So... still definitely not in love with Roach?"

Shit, Soap.

He turned slowly to see the Captain grinning at him. "You're not fooling me, I can see right through that mask of yours."

"Keep your damn mouth shut!" Ghost hissed, terrified someone - especially Roach - could find out. He didn't think he could stand that kind of rejection. Not that he thought he had a chance anyway. "There's nothing to talk about!"

He stared down at his desk, resolutely ignoring Soap's gaze.

"I'm your friend, Ghost." He finally said and the sincerity in his voice made him glance up. "I'd never tell anyone."

"It's nothing."

"If you say so." Soap got up and walked over to him. Ghost stiffened but he only took his phone back. "Maybe you should let Roach in. You deserve happiness, Ghost."

He'd never want me.

Ghost kept the thought to himself, it was too pathetic to say aloud.

"I need to finish this plan." He said instead, spreading out the papers. "We've only got a few weeks before leaving."

Soap nodded and let it go. He gave him a quick squeeze on the shoulder before returning to his desk.

Ghost just stared at the plans, thinking only of Roach.