It had been two days since Price presented his usual debriefing on your next mission. Despite being completely competent, not to mention safe with your teammates, you began to grow nervous about the entire ordeal. Triple checking your gear, hiding in your room and trying anything to relax, you simply couldn't remove the uneasy feeling from your body.
It's not like anything bad ever happened on missions, but you still expected the worst. Everyone, noticeably Ghost, had noticed and commented on your fidgety behavior, but allowed to you deal with your issues by yourself.
You were a soldier; you've endured worse.
And yet, you still found yourself pacing in your room as you nervously checked your bag one more time.
...then once more.
It was too exhausting; you needed a cigarette. That would get your mind off your predicament, even at the expense of your lungs.
Scrounging through your drawers, you found empty cartons of cigarettes from your last pre-mission stress, which only made your anxiety spike even more.
Walking into the common room, you plopped yourself on the couch next to Ghost. He was reading, a cup of tea on the side table as he glanced over at you.
Your elbows were firmly planted on your knees as you rubbed your palms over you face. Without asking, you felt Ghost nudge your side and hand you a fresh package of cigarettes.
Lighting the cigarette, you released plumes of smoke into the air as the nicotine subdued your overactive nerves. And yet, you still felt so uneasy, so nervous. Your leg thumped against the floor rhythmically as you smoked, drawing Ghost's attention.
Still keeping his eye on his book, Ghost planted his palm on your thigh, keeping you from bobbing it up and down.
"Relax, Love."
The nickname mixed with his warm gloves rubbing over your thigh calmed you down as he glanced at your anxious gaze.
"Don't worry, {{user}}. You're safe with me, alright?"
Patting your leg, Ghost smiles underneath his skull mask.