He wanted to fight back, he truly did. Nothing would satisfy him more that to take the nearest hammer and smash in their face. But which face? The younger face with hidden agendas behind taunting eyes, or the older face that told exactly what he planned with great enthusiasm? They seemed to morph into one image, qualities of both men blending together.
'Simon, you belong to me. Who you are, what you will become when we mold you into my best interest. Our goal is simp-'
'Go to hell I don't belong to ANYONE.'
'Simon, if you feel that way, then maybe I should bury you in the desert like we had done before with-'
'Try it.' The face in front of his seemed to shift, a demented smile dancing in front of him.
'We do have someone who would be willing to help you. I can't guarantee he is happy to see you however…'
Ghost felt his ankles being grabbed, watching the face disappear above him as he was pulled down. He kicked his legs frantically, looking down to see Vernon pulling him towards a wooden box. He held back a yell of terror as the hands and visage of Vernon decayed quickly, his jaw hanging by a rotted tendon. Vernon shot towards him, mangled hands wrapped around his throat as they fell into the box. In a fit of rage, Ghost flipped the position, his hands grabbing the surprisingly healthy neck of Vernon.
'YOU BLOODY WANKER I'LL LEAVE YOU TO DIE IN THE DESERT ALONE!'
"Gho-Ghost!"
"SEE HOW YOU BLOODY LIKE IT YA WANKER YOU'LL SEE-"
A small slap to his face brought Ghost to his senses to see an unconscious Roach lying below him, face blue. Ghost stared for a moment, his mind trying to break through the fog and comprehend why exactly he was holding Roach down by his th-wait his throat? What? Ghost backpedaled in shock, before he quickly scrambled to Roach, checking to see if he was breathing.
"Oh fuck Roach shite wake up shite shite Roach wake up." Ghost mumbled in a panic. He was slightly relieved to find Roach breathing, shallowly but still breathing. He gave a few light slaps to the face, hoping that was enough to rouse Roach awake. When that didn't work, he gave a small grimace before slapping Roach hard across the face. That got Roach to startle awake, his hands flying up defensively with a squeak of surprise. He coughed horsley, eyes fluttering to open fully as he put his hands slowly on his neck, rubbing slowly.
"D-damn Ghost…" Roach mumbled, his voice quiet as he sat up slowly. "Are you ok…?"
"Are you really asking me that question?" Ghost sat in shock as the sergeant in front of him watched carefully, deep green eyes clouded with worry. "I just choked you out and you're asking if I am ok?" Roach gave a small shrug.
"I mean I figured you've been having a lot of nightmares any time you sleep and you've been away for...about five days now, so I mean not having someone around in your sleep could have triggered a fight or flight response." Roach glanced away, hand still rubbing his neck. Ghost had to listen carefully as he spoke, voice nearly silent from the amount of pressure he had applied.
"Sorry…" Ghost mumbled, looking away guiltily as he noticed that there was already a dark mark forming.
"It's fine dude."
"I highly doubt you're fine Roach I almost killed you." Roach glanced up again, and Ghost could see the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke next.
"I trust you enough to not actually harm me on purpose. You've saved my ass enough times for me to trust you." Roach smiled. "I mean who else gets tased twice to save someone?" Ghost gave a half smile in response.
"Trust can be easily misplaced." Roach gave an aggravated sigh, sparing no look towards the door.
"And good whatever-the-fuck time it is to you."
"It is-"
"I don't care." Gonzalo gave an irritated huff of annoyance.
"Gary I will be taking Simon again, you are to remain here."
"Again? You got tired of me?" Roach looked to Ghost, noting the slight increase in tension. "I feel neglected."
"I see, in the time you have been reacquainted that Simon has not told you of the deal he agreed upon?" Gonzalo's eyes light up in amusement as Ghost froze. Roach went to make a remark when he noticed the look of fear and horror on the lieutenant's face, body overly tense.
"A deal? What...what kind of deal…?" Roach asked quietly, gaze not leaving Ghost.
"A rather...interesting endeavor for Simon. If he-"
"I do what he says….anything he says...he doesn't touch you." Ghost answered, his voice almost a quiet whisper. It took everything for the sergeant not to fall over in shock, body swaying as he made eye contact with darkened blue eyes.
"You didn't." A solemn nod was his answer. "What the fuck Ghost I-"
"Roach this isn't up for discussion the deal's been mad-"
"No you British fucker I'm not letting you be a goddamn slave to some megalomaniaca-"
"And I'm not letting you get f-"
"Ghost I can handl-"
"You can't handle what he wan-"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE WANTS I CARE ABOUT YOU-"
"AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET TO YOU LIKE THEY DID TO ME-"
"As much fun as this exchange is headed I believe Simon and I had plans today." Gonzalo smoothly interrupted, gun in hand aimed at Roach. With deliberate steps he stood behind Ghost, one hand placed on his shoulder gently. Roach could see the shiver Ghost gave off, anger rising quickly.
"Like what plans, beating the crap outta him and leaving him a mangled mess again?"
"Something to that nature, although I was hoping Simon would have enjoyed our last session." Gonzalo replied silkily, fingertips tracing small patterns over Ghost's shoulder. No one could have missed the way Ghost shuddered in disgust. "Did you not enjoy it Simon?" Ghost avoided locking eye contact as he mumbled under his breath. "What was that? You must speak up."
"I said….that I had en-enjoyed it…"
"Ohhh….you really ARE a sick, twisted fuck." Roach spoke with a light tone, but the undertone held malice. "And here I thought that you had peaked." He stood up slowly, cracking his neck and back before locking eyes to Gonzalo. "Deal's off."
"Oh, it is?" Gonzalo replied with the same airy tone as Roach. "And what makes you say that Gary?"
"I'm not letting some sick fuck do whatever he wants to Ghost. I don't give a shit what 'deal' he had, it's not happening."
"Roach it was never up for discussion stand do-"
"No." Ghost paused as Roach took up a fighting stance. "I'm not standing aside while you take the full punishment."
"Roach I'm telling you it's fi-"
"You tellin' me it's fine when he does that to you? You're easy to read without the mask Ghost, and I know how much it's messing with you." Roach never broke eye contact, disregarding the gun still aimed at him.
"Well, this is a rather interesting development. I must go over this. I will return later." Gonzalo lowered the gun slowly, stance relaxed. Roach shifted, teeth clenched as he kept up his guard. "For now, our session is postponed." With a small smile towards Ghost, Gonzalo walked out, the door closing shut behind him. Roach didn't drop stance until a moment had passed, moving to slouch against the wall. He slid down until he was sitting, knees pulled up with his head resting on them.
"You didn't hafta do that Roach." Ghost said quietly, sitting cross-legged with his elbows resting on his knees.
"And you didn't have to get that stupid deal set up. What the hell Ghost?" Roach grumbled, voice slightly muffled.
"I told you before I don't want them to do what they did to me, to you. So yeah, I did." Ghost replied, propping his head on one hand.
"Yeah, but Ghost if that involves what I know he did to you the past few day-"
"They did that, and more, Roach." Ghost and Roach looked up at each other.
"We're not 'trading' off torture Ghost. I don't care, it's not an option. You're like a brother to me man, and I can't stand watching you get tossed in here like a sack of potatoes while I'm almost perfectly ok." Ghost remained silent. "And I don't think MacTavish would appreciate it if you got so fucked up you couldn't return to duty within two weeks."
"You honestly think they'll make it here?" Ghost scoffed quietly. "It's already been about three weeks Roach. I'm surprised you haven't given up on the idea yet."
"'Cuz I know the captain wouldn't just throw that out to us unless he was going to go through with it." Ghost shrugged before laying down. Roach hummed in thought, resting his head back down onto his knees. "I mean, right? You've known the captain longer than I have."
"I haven't seen him ever go back on his word, so maybe you're right bug. I can imagine Archer would be beating his ass into line right now." Ghost chuckled, rolling onto his back and folding his hands under his head. Roach snickered. "If not that he'll probably be in his office finally catching up on paperwork."
"The paperwork that you always do?"
"Yeah. Since I'm not there he has to now."
"Must be shitty if he hates paperwork.
"Nah mate, he's just a lazy shite." Roach laughed, his shoulders shaking. Ghost glanced over at him, eyebrow quirked up. "What's so funny?"
"I can't believe how he can just berate us about proper work ethic and shit like that and he fucking dumps all of that shit all on you. Like he was super anal about our guns, our equipment, reports, our fucking bunks and he does that? I admire the captain but holy fucking shit." Roach looked up, a wide grin on his face. "I can't wait to rub that into his face."
"I didn't tell you anything about anything. Dunno where you heard any of that scandalous information." Ghost raised one of his hands in mock surrender. "No way you heard that from me."
"We can just claim that you were babbling incoherently because you were like, drugged or something." Roach's grin fell into a grimace as Ghost winced, his hand falling. "Yeah, my bad…"
"It's fine."
A silence stretched between them, a slow drip of water counting the time passing before they fell into uneasy sleep.
Eugh...sorry been a while. I thought life had stabilized some. I was wrong. I am still writing and the next chapter is almost done. I'll start the next chapter after that and upload. Let me know how this read because this chapter was one that did take a while. It was a...weird chapter for me to write because of well...that stuff. So yeah. Enjoy.