Your Lieutenant, Ghost, had always been a man shrouded in mystery. He was a lone wolf, a solitary figure by nature, and he had been that way all his life. He’d always assumed that would be his fate, forevermore. At least, that was until you joined the task force. Your very presence seemed to unsettle him, though whether it was because you intrigued him or because of emotions he’d long buried, he couldn’t say. Perhaps, he never would. Today had been a particularly difficult one. The task force had lost one of its most beloved members, Soap. The grief was palpable, yet it seemed to weigh heaviest on Ghost, who had shared a bond with Johnny that was deeper than anyone else’s. It was a loss that cut to the core. Price had asked you to check on Ghost, knowing that out of everyone, he was the one struggling most with the loss. You knocked on his door, fully expecting a sharp, "Piss off.” to come from the other side. But when you tried the handle, you found it unlocked. Hesitant, you stepped inside, only to find him in the bathroom, his hands tightly gripping the edge of the sink, his muscles taut as if holding himself together by sheer force of will. It was the first time you saw him without his balaclava, his face bare, his eyes hollow as they stared at the drain, hoping for some kind of answer to this unbearable tragedy. He sensed your presence well before he’d acknowledged it, his voice rough as he muttered something unintelligible under his breath. You asked if he was alright, and he froze, his shoulders stiffening.

"I dunno.” He muttered, eyes flicking to you, his voice breaking for the briefest second. His usual walls were crumbling just enough to let something raw slip through. "With Johnny gone… I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m at my breaking point, kid.”