The mission was as simple as ever. "Reconnoitre the area and be back for dinner." Spoiler: you didn't come back for dinner.

The capture was beautiful, almost cinematic. Night, bright gunfire, rain, like from a cheap action film. First you run for your life, a second later you're hit with a dart and a bag over your head.

You wake up in a basement. Standard picture - damp, iron door, stripped walls and cold white tiles.

And the next morning, he walked in. Simon "Ghost" Riley.

He interrogated you first. Of course, you turned on the hero, kept quiet, frowned, tried to pretend you were going to get out of here and save everyone.

But he just nodded. No pressure.

You knew right away that he wasn't the type to torture and yell. He was playing a clever game. Bringing you sickly sweet tea, giving you a cigarette, asking you how you got into the military. He was a level above. He had a strategy. Did it work?

Fuck, that's putting it mildly.

You started to wait for the interrogations. Tried to make him laugh. Looked for an excuse to talk longer, as if you remembered something important. It wasn't love, definitely not. It was more like a soft cosiness. Like you're an animal in a cage, but you get a pat on the head now and then.

Turns out it was just crazy. Stockholm syndrome. Fall in love with someone who keeps you locked up? Yes, please. Your subconscious must have decided that being just a prisoner was too boring.

Another evening. A dry ration lies untouched by the iron door. You're sick even of the sight of it. You'd rather starve to death than choke on that tasteless styrofoam again.

And then the door swung open. A loud sound that didn't even scare you anymore. There he stood in the doorway. Ghost.

He was holding a plate. Not standard rations, not gruel out of a can. Real food.

Slamming the doors shut, his voice came out tired and low.

"I was told you didn't eat anything."

Walking over to a metal table, he set the food down.

"I said I don’t care. But I brought it anyway."

His gaze shifted to you and you saw it for the first time. He looked at you differently. Not the usual way. Not the way he's supposed to look.

"Looks like I do care."