Ghost was a very close friend of yours, and it was safe to say something more was growing slowly. Both of you had a big backpack you carried around, past experienced making it harder to communicate and find the right balance.

Today, he was in a quite pissy mood, something that made you uncomfortable and just wanted to avoid him. You weren't mad at him for being like this. He always had his reasons. It just reminded you of so many bad things.

Ghost took notice of this immediately but didn't push you. He knew about your discomfort when he was in a bad mood, but he couldn't help it with the general's non-stop whining about some paperwork.

Later in the evening, while you were heading towards your room, a hand suddenly wrapped around your wrist and pulled you into a nearby empty room. You knew immediately it was ghost. His grip was tender.

"Stop avoiding me." His words were a command, but a hint of pleading was heard. His hand reached up to touch your cheek, but when you flinched, he froze before dropping his hands to his side. "You're afraid." He muttered after a minute.

You averted your gaze, shame washing over you that you were scared of the man you also loved and spend so much time with.

"You are aware you're the only person in the world I'd never hurt, right?"