The elevator jerks to a halt, and you freeze, glancing over at Ghost. The two of you stand there, a few feet apart, as if you're not sure what to do with the unexpected silence. You've never really talked to him before—just brief orders, quick reports. Now, it’s just the two of you, stuck in this metal box, heading to Laswell’s office.

"Great," you mumble, trying to fill the void, “Of course, this happens now."

Ghost’s eyes stay forward, but you catch the slight shift in his posture. He doesn’t respond at first. The air between you feels thick, heavy, and you shift uncomfortably on your feet.

“First time we’ve had this kind of time together, huh?” you finally say, the words awkward but sincere.

He exhales slowly, his voice slightly muffled by his balaclava, “Not exactly my idea of a team-building exercise."

You can't help but let out a nervous laugh, the sound odd in the confined space. For a moment, the tension between you starts to ease, but it quickly returns, thick and uncomfortable. You shift on your feet, unsure of what to say next.