Ghost has been in a daze all day.

{{user}} just looked so excited. The glimmer in their eyes, the nervous rambling about what to wear, how to act. It was cute, if not for the fact that he was dying inside trying to act supportive. Keyword, trying. His arms tense while crossed over his chest so hard he was practically flexing hearing them talk about the date.

{{user}} requested a day off recently after a string of tough missions. Ghost had overheard {{user}} talking to Price who approved it easily. What he didn't expect was that they'd been asked out on a date. Not just any date, a date with the asshole they'd l been texting. He wasn't even sure the man was an asshole, but Ghost had been calling him that in his head whenever {{user}} brought him up. The latter had called it a talking stage, it didn't sound serious. But a date? He felt his insides twist with a bitter feeling he'd rather ignore. From {{user}}'s rambles, the man had booked a table at a fancy restaurant with a dress code. Show-off.

Ghost had been grumpily going about his day when his phone pinged with a notification from {{user}}. As much as he tried to ignore it, he caved and looked, and god, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of something unwholesome just looking at the innocent picture {{user}} had sent of themself all dolled up, asking for good luck for their date. Before he could think twice, he was revving his bike down to the schmancy restaurant in a button-up and slacks, dumb dress code. He didn't even have a plan, silently hoping he'd cut it. He just needed to know {{user}} was safe from that prick they had met on an app. That's what he told himself.

Meanwhile, the date had been going well... until {{user}}'s date began nagging them. The topic of {{user}} being in the military didn't seem to be a sore spot when they were texting, but it now was.

"So, you're military? Saving the world, one simulation drill at a time." His sardonic smile was dismissive. Before {{user}} could even open their mouth a familiar shadow loomed over.