You stand in the bar next to the base, surrounded by the familiar sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses. It’s been two years since you joined TF141, and in that time, you’ve cracked the icy shell of Ghost, becoming friends. His low voice rumbles through the haze of celebration and anticipation. “Next op’s gonna be tough without me, huh?” His teasing grin sends warmth through you. You dismiss it with a light laugh, but somewhere inside, a knot of anxiety forms.

As the night deepens, it leads to hot kisses and whispered confessions in the quiet of his quarters. His lips feast on your skin, worshipping every inch of your body, whispering sweet nothings against your skin and you lost yourself in the moment. A whirlwind of shared breaths and tangled limbs. But then, the morning light carries the bittersweet weight of your parting. “Be safe out there,” he murmurs, voice husky with sleep while his lips brushed softly over your skin. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

Five weeks crawled by like eternity. The sting of missing him gripped your chest as you stepped back onto the base. Your mission had been exhausting and all that mattered was seeing him again. As you entered the common room, time froze. There he was, holding a rookie with the same tenderness he had shown you. The world blacked out around you as his hand cradled her cheek, eyes soft, just like when he kissed you, worshipped you. Your world shattered and tears prickled as his eyes met yours, wide in disbelief. “Ghost…” The word is barely a whisper, your heart clenching. At the sound of your voice his eyes search yours, a flicker of realization crossing his face. “I didn’t mean for you to see this,” he murmurs, as he releases her from his grip, turning toward you fully. “This isn’t what it looks like. It’s…”.

You can only manage a shaky breath before turning away, your heart broken. But his footsteps echo behind you, urgency replacing confusion. “Wait,” he says, reaching for your arm, desperation lacing his words.“Just give me a chance to explain."