Uhm...read below

Roach had been separated from Ghost for well over four hours, left to be strapped into a chair.

Alone.

In a tiny room.

He had tried many times to get out, but with his arm tied behind him, and his casted arm complicating his position even more he was forced to either have his shoulder out forward or raised up. Both positions were uncomfortable, and it was painful to shift to each spot.

All in all he wasn't in a good mood.

After watching them take Ghost, they returned moments later to grab Roach-and Roach put up one helluva fight.

So what if he eventually was tied down to the chair he was currently in? At least Juan and Jorge got a split lip and black eye in retaliation. But it wasn't worth watching Gonzalo with a very predatory look in his eyes as he left over two hours ago.

The two hours Gonzalo sat with him were more than unnerving. At first, they both just sat there, Roach staring defiantly back at Gonzalo as he paced in front of him, the same damned gun doing acrobatics in his hands. No words were exchanged the first hour, just staring at each other. It became awkward when Gonzalo started to hum Phantom of the Opera and Sounds of Music.

During the second hour Roach could tell Gonzalo was deep in thought, occasionally glancing over at him before muttering something in Spanish.

"Ok, are you done? Like can you stop being a creepy fuck in front of me?" Roach finally let out. Gonzalo stopped, spinning on his heel to face Roach.

"Tell me, you have known Simon for a few years correct?" He asked.

"I've known him since I joined the team. I'll let speculation linger as to how long that is." Roach said bluntly.

"Three years and two months." Gonzalo said dully. Roach blinked. He was right. Well, no sense in letting the psychopathic man know that.

"That's a pretty farfetched number you tossed out there."

"But it is correct." Gonzalo didn't hesitate in his retaliation.

"Like I said, I'll let the speculation linger." Roach repeated.

"Based on the amount of time you have known him, and the amount of missions you have been deployed with him, how much of a protective relationship do you think you two have for each other?" Gonzalo asked. Roach blinked again, trying to comprehend the lengthy question.

"What the hell? No seriously, break that question up for me and explain it." He shook his head slowly. "Maybe the lack of food and water is getting to me."

"What I mean to say is that, given the time Simon has known you, how many times has he helped you out of a troubling situation?" Roach stared at Gonzalo as he started to pace again, ignoring the pain as he shifted in his seat again.

"…why would any of this be relevant?"

"I am trying to interpret the types of relationships Simon has developed since he left us. Any form of emotional bonds and the like." Gonzalo replied.

"Fuck if I know. Ask him. I mean, I guess we're just like, pals I guess, but that's all I can ever get on the guy." Roach shrugged, some difficulty in the maneuver.

"I see…well thank you for your time Roach." Gonzalo said suddenly, spinning on his heels and heading to the door. "Oh, it would be so much easier if I knew your real name."

"My real name is Muhammad Lee." Roach said dryly.

"Highly doubted."

"Well then that sucks doesn't it." Gonzalo gave a small nod before he walked out, the door slamming shut behind him.

For the next two hours Roach drifted in and out of an uneasy sleep, his mind trying to understand what the conversation was alluding to. Of course, he couldn't figure it out. He wasn't exactly pegged as one of the smartest of the team.

And he wasn't a crazed psychopath hell bent on delivering a horrible revenge to a guy they mentally fucked up a few years ago either.

"What a terrible guest. I leave for a little bit and you fall asleep. Tsk tsk Roach." Roach jerked his head up suddenly, finding Gonzalo standing in front of him, looking almost triumphant.

"What a terrible host, leaving his guest unattended for two hours." Roach countered bitterly.

"I would apologize, but I was attending to Simon." Gonzalo replied wistfully, a much bigger man that Gonzalo's two favorites coming in. Over his shoulder was-

"Ghost!" Roach gasped. The large man dropped the lieutenant in front of Roach and left without a word, Gonzalo gaining a small smirk. "What the fuck?"

"We did have quite the time, Simon and I. A shame he fell asleep so quickly." Gonzalo shook his head almost wistfully. Roach glanced down at the unconscious man in front of him, actually noticing that Ghost was looking much worse for wear than he had previously thought. Old battle scars stood out more against pale skin, a rather horrible one on his side and back; the lack of daily training having the muscles slowly disappear and give an even lankier look than before. Ribs were more easily spotted, and Roach could almost count them from his chair. His joints now looked like a mangled mess, any remaining bandaging Nate had wrapped them in torn away and hanging loosely.

"Are you kidding, Ghost never sleeps." Roach grumbled angrily. He may not be the smartest, a self admitted fact, but he wasn't naïve. It wasn't hard to figure out why Gonzalo looked so…smug.

"He can rest for now, I would like to talk to you." Gonzalo motioned to the large man, who disappeared behind the door and reappeared with a simple folding chair. He placed it in front of the smaller man and back away, closing the door as he left. Gonzalo spun it on one of the legs until it faced him, sitting in the chair and leaning over the backing towards Roach.

"Can you like, not point your crotch towards me? I'm getting all kinds of vibes from you that are just messin' up my steeze." Roach looked up to the ceiling, avoiding the eye contact that Gonzalo was trying to make.

"Roach, I would like to have a conversation where you are making eye contact with me. Is that not proper etiquette?" Gonzalo asked, a slight lilt in his voice.

"It is proper etiquette. I just don't give a rat's ass."

"Your name is not Muhammad Lee. Although being the most popular first and last name, there are few in number who fit that exact naming profile." Gonzalo raised an eyebrow. Roach glanced back at him, mimicking the raised eyebrow.

"So, did you just go onto a website to look that up or did you actually know that? Because if you say you actually knew that then I call complete and utter bullshit in everything you say from here on out." Roach paused, then let out a small laugh. "Fuckin' you went online and looked it up didn't you?! C'mon man, give me some credit! My name actually is Muhammad!"

"Do not lie to me, Roach." Gonzalo's hand twitched towards his gun holster. Roach caught the slight movement. Did he care? Not really. He laughed again.

"Goddamn I can't believe you looked it up."

"Do you recall the question I had asked you earlier before my departure?" Gonzalo asked suddenly. Roach furrowed his eyebrows, rolling his head back to look at the ceiling once again.

"Depends man, you asked a lot of questions. One I didn't get and had you reask."

"I asked about his friends. If he had acquired new ones. I was curious about this, but seeing as how you two seem to be close, then my hunches were slightly correct."

"Care to explain then? 'Cause I think it's a dick move to bring something up just to dangle and tease about it. And I mean, I know I'm your….what, hostage? Prisoner? Whatever the fuck, I mean this info isn't really affecting how you deal with us what wit-"

"Do you ever stop talking?" Gonzalo sighed, stopping Roach mid-sentence. Roach paused, tongue against his teeth as he sucked in some air. His head lolled back to face Gonzalo, signature grin on his face.

"Nnnnnnnnnope."

"Very well. I guess I can tell you some of Simon's history. Shame he is not awake to listen." Gonzalo stood up, moving the chair against the wall behind him. Roach glanced down to Ghost, noting his eyes fluttering open for a moment. Ghost seemed to realize he was being watched, only moving his eyes to look back at Roach. Before Roach could do more, Ghost's eyes closed again, his body seemingly trying to deflate as he relaxed, his breathing slowing down. Roach assumed he fell asleep before Gonzalo started pacing in front of him, blocking his view from Ghost with every pass.

"When Simon was found and captured by us, it was by no mistake. They had weeded out the weak before the plan could commence. Father had needed new men to do the tasks none of the other soldiers under us could commit. Some higher up in the military to help conceal our movements, some to take care of competition. Simon would have fallen into the latter category, after his old commanding officer had mentioned to Major Vernon that Simon was a very efficient killer. We had set up that he along with two others would be captured and put through strenuous practices until they did as we commanded."

"So, brainwashing? That shit exists?" Roach interrupted in disbelief. Gonzalo tsked, shaking his head.

"Rather, conditioned. With enough time, many people can be conditioned and groomed to the way you wish for them to behave. The rather famous experiment with Pavlov? I am sure you have heard of this experiment. He had conditioned his dog into a behavior."

"Yeah, no I'm pretty sure Pavlov's experiments ended up with brainwashing a dog to break laws." Roach scoffed. He could have sworn he saw Ghost give the slightest of grins before Gonzalo passed in front of him again.

"Regardless, he had two companions with him. Kevin Sparks and Marcus Washington. Both were exceptional subjects. They succumbed to our efforts with relative ease. They both had rather addictive personalities. We just had to supply the object of their addiction. One was sex, one was the medicines. Very easy to supply."

"Gross." Roach grumbled.

"They were the ones my father released. My father had a type of conditioning technique instilled into the simple minds of those soldiers. They were quite easy. Simon was a different story, resistant to all of our tricks, our methods. We eventually let his teammates escape, and he was left to die in a hole."

"But then he came back and kicked your dad's sorry fatass al-"

SMACK

Roach blinked in surprise, Gonzalo standing in front of him with an infuriated look and raised hand.

SMACK

"You. How dare you speak like that about my father." Gonzalo spit out, venom and malice heavily laced in his words as he raised his hand again. He swung, this time turning his hand into a fist at the last second and hitting Roach on his right cheek, splitting open the still healing cut and letting it bleed profusely.

"You're father was a jackass, man-whore with no life and a tiny dick. He was the lowest of the low and you fuckin' know it you motherfucker! Just because Ghost killed your dad, after your precious daddy fucked his life over, what did you think was going to happen?! For him to go on his merry way and pretend nothing was wrong?!" Roach started to seethe in equal anger. Did he care that he was tied down? Not really. Would be nice to have use of his arms. "Fuck no! He was gonna get fuckin bloody even with you!"

"There was a plan. I prided myself on following the plans we set out. My father was a brilliant tactician. He knew Simon would return to us. However, he planned on having Simon's rage, mold it into something we can utilize."

"And now that that's fucked up, what did you plan now?"

"I have already told you. You and Simon will both be here for two months. It is day thirteen. On day sixty, Simon will lose his life, in exchange for taking my father's. Soon after, you will lose your life as well." Gonzalo backed up from Roach until he stood over Ghost, booted foot resting on Ghost's head heavily. Roach noticed the twinge of annoyance and pain that flashed over his face, keeping silent. "This, filth, of a man will suffer for destroying the Zaragoza Cartel."

"You reaaaaaally need to get your fuckin' priorities straight." Roach gave a quick laugh, shaking his head. Gonzalo didn't say another word, pressing a bit harder with his foot for a moment more before leaving the room. Before the door closed, the larger man that had come in before returned, picking up Ghost with relative ease. Another, unfamiliar person came in behind the first, untying Roach and shoving him forward out of the chair. Roach whipped around, glaring at the man before being met with an M9 pointed at him. He glowered as he was led out, following the larger man until they were back in their familiar room, Ghost once again thrown onto the floor unceremoniously. It elicited a loud groan of pain as he rolled onto his back, receiving a swift kick in the side as a parting gift as the larger man left them. The smaller man closed the door, glaring at the two as he did so.

Roach slouched against the wall, moaning as he slid down until he sat, tilting his head back to hit the wall behind him. He closed his eyes, sighing as he tried to relax, the small room silent for a few moments.

"…Roach?" Ghost mumbled, barely audible.

"…hm?" Roach hummed back in response. He opened his left eye to see ghost staring at the ceiling, one arm under his head and the other moved to drape over his stomach.

"….thanks…I guess…" Roach scoffed, sitting up slightly.

"Thanks for what?" Ghost remained staring at the ceiling, a small confused look on his face as well.

"…you did kinda stick up for me in there. I guess."

"Not really. I mean honestly. With whatever you went through with his dad, I'm sure if I were in the same position I woulda done the same thing." Ghost turned his head to look at Roach, an emotion in his eyes unfamiliar to the younger man hidden under the pain.

"No, Roach. You wouldn't've." Roach looked away, sighing.

"Maybe not. But I mean…" he trailed off.

"…he did a lot of things to us, to me personally." Ghost mumbled, his gaze back up to the ceiling. "Maybe, I'll tell you about it."

"You don't have to." Roach said hastily. "It's your shit to de-"

"Whether you and I like it or not, we're both here now because of my fuck-up." Ghost said darkly. Roach hadn't seen him switch temperament so quickly before. "And since I brought you into this, you deserve to know what he might have ready for us."

"…ok Ghost. If you think I need to know…I'm all ears." Roach moved to lay down next to Ghost, turning his head to look at him. Ghost glanced back at him, his hair falling to partially cover his eyes, that one unknown emotion still showing. Ghost blinked slowly, seemingly studying Roach's expression.

"It started four years ago…"

God, has it really been almost two years since I last updated...?
Huh. Weird.
Sorry I haven't update in so long guys. TBH, I had a lot of stuff fall onto my plate around the last time I updated. Relationship was growing, family was shrinking, bills went up, pay stayed the same. I hit a really big creative block since I was so stressed out, that I really had no time to create, well, anything. I did touch on this story throughout the year or so, and I do know where I want this to go. So for now, I will say that I will update again. It will be slow, there will be no schedule. But really, I discovered that writing creatively, be it fanfiction or my own fiction ideas, is actually a great outlet for me, stress and anxiety wise. So, if you are new to the story, great timing. For those who follow/ed my story, I am sorry for the wait. I hope this chapter lived up to expectations.
3 the little messages from people saying that they still loved this story really kinda kicked my butt into gear. So if you enjoyed it this time around, feel free to do the same again.
I promise. I will update again. If you want me to.