Between the Lines

The debrief was mercifully brief, the higher-ups more interested in the success of the mission than the finer details of how it was accomplished. Ghost and Soap sat side by side in the conference room, their focus on the maps and reports in front of them, but their thoughts were miles away. For Ghost, every second spent in Soap’s presence was a reminder of the unspoken tension between them—tension that had only grown since the firefight in Verdansk.

As the meeting adjourned, the room gradually emptied, leaving just the two of them behind. Soap lingered, his fingers drumming lightly on the table, a sign of the restless energy that had been brewing beneath the surface all day. Ghost noticed but kept his gaze forward, unwilling to break the silence first.

Finally, Soap spoke, his voice quieter than usual. “Simon, we need to talk.”

Ghost stiffened, knowing this conversation had been coming but dreading it all the same. “About what?”

Soap turned in his chair to face him fully, his blue eyes searching Ghost’s face for any sign of what he was thinking. “You know damn well what. Ever since that night in the ruins… things have been different. I can’t ignore it, and I don’t think you can either.”

Ghost’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t used to this—talking about feelings, confronting emotions. It was easier to bury them, to focus on the mission, on the next objective. But Soap wasn’t letting it go, and deep down, Ghost knew he couldn’t avoid it forever.

“Johnny…” Ghost started, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. “I don’t know how to… I’ve never been good at this kind of thing.”

Soap’s expression softened, his usual bravado melting away to reveal a rare vulnerability. “I get that, mate. But you don’t have to be good at it. You just have to be honest.”

Ghost looked at him then, really looked at him, and saw the truth in Soap’s eyes. This wasn’t just about the mission, about surviving another day in the field. This was about something deeper, something Ghost had been trying to deny for too long.

Taking a deep breath, Ghost forced himself to speak the words that had been lodged in his throat for days. “I… I care about you, Johnny. More than I probably should.”

Soap’s eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Ghost feared he had said too much. But then a slow smile spread across Soap’s face, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. “That’s all I needed to hear, Simon. You’re not alone in this.”

The relief that washed over Ghost was almost overwhelming. He had been bracing himself for rejection, for awkwardness, but instead, he found acceptance, understanding. It was more than he had dared to hope for.

Soap leaned back in his chair, his smile turning a bit more playful. “So, what do we do now, then? Can’t exactly go shouting it from the rooftops.”

Ghost chuckled, the sound unfamiliar but not unwelcome. “No, I suppose we can’t. But we take it one step at a time, like everything else. We figure it out as we go.”

Soap nodded, his expression thoughtful. “One step at a time. I can live with that.”

The weight that had been pressing on Ghost’s chest for days began to lift. This wasn’t going to be easy—nothing about their lives was ever easy—but it was a start. And for the first time in a long time, Ghost felt like he wasn’t just fighting to survive. He was fighting for something more, something worth holding onto.

As they sat there in the quiet conference room, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them and the unspoken promise that had been made. They didn’t need to say more; the understanding was there, unspoken but powerful.

But the moment couldn’t last forever. The reality of their situation began to creep back in, the knowledge that they were soldiers first and foremost, with a duty to their team and their mission. They couldn’t afford distractions, couldn’t let their feelings get in the way of the job.

Ghost knew this, and he could see that Soap did too. But knowing it didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t erase the connection that had formed between them, or the way his heart beat a little faster whenever Soap was near.

“We’ll have to be careful,” Ghost said, his voice more serious now. “This… it can’t interfere with the mission.”

Soap’s playful smile softened into something more serious, more understanding. “I know. We’ll keep it under wraps, be professional. But that doesn’t mean we have to ignore it.”

Ghost nodded, relieved that they were on the same page. “Right. One step at a time.”

They both stood up, the conversation seemingly over, but the air between them was charged with a new understanding. Soap hesitated for a moment, then reached out, his hand brushing against Ghost’s in a gesture that was both tentative and reassuring. It was a small thing, barely noticeable, but it spoke volumes.

Ghost felt the warmth of Soap’s touch lingering even after they pulled away, a reminder that he wasn’t alone in this, that whatever came next, they would face it together.

“Come on,” Soap said, his tone lighter now. “Let’s get back to the others before they start wondering what we’re up to.”

Ghost allowed himself a small smile as he followed Soap out of the room. The future was uncertain, filled with challenges they couldn’t yet see, but for the first time in a long time, Ghost felt a sense of hope. Whatever happened next, they would take it one step at a time, together.

And for now, that was enough.

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