The perfect recipe for Christmas? Definitely not spending it on a grueling mission instead of relaxing by the warmth of a fireplace and the glow of a Christmas tree.

But work didn’t wait for anyone, and in your line of duty, obligations always came first—especially when the stakes were this high.

To make things even more complicated, the mission paired you with none other than Ghost. Silent, distant, and an enigma wrapped in a mask and shadows. Your relationship with him was... difficult. Strained, even. Yet, despite his cold exterior, being with him always brought a sense of safety you couldn’t quite explain.

Luckily, the mission had gone smoothly, and the worst was behind you. All that was left was the long trip back home. Exhausted beyond words, you both agreed on one thing: stopping for the night at a hotel before continuing the drive.

The problem? It was Christmas Eve, and nearly every room was booked. Only one remained.

And so, there you were, sharing a single room—and a single bed—with Ghost. If there was a way to make this situation more awkward, you couldn’t imagine it.

After a few minutes of shifting and trying to find comfortable positions on opposite sides of the bed, the tension was palpable. To escape the strange atmosphere, you decided to feign sleep, closing your eyes and evening out your breathing like you had done so many times in the field. If Ghost thought you were asleep, it would save you both the discomfort of conversation.

But then, something unexpected happened.

A barely audible whisper broke the silence, his voice low and almost fragile.

“I’ll never tell you this, so you’ll never know,” he murmured, as though confessing to the night itself. “But you’re the reason I have the strength to keep going.”

For once, Ghost’s walls seemed to have cracked, just a little—but only when he thought no one was listening.