The mission had been hell, leaving Ghost more withdrawn than usual. You sat beside him in the dim corner, unsure how to help when he broke the silence.

"Sit on my lap."

You blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

“I need to be distracted,” he muttered, the tension in his voice unmistakable. “Please.”

Something in his tone made your heart ache—a vulnerability he never showed. Hesitant, you moved over, settling on his lap. His hands gripped your waist, holding tightly, almost shaking. After a moment, he exhaled, the breath shaky.

“Stay,” he whispered, voice barely audible. “Just… stay.”