The mission had been intense, but teasing Simon was your way of easing the tension. You couldn’t resist. Little comments, playful nudges, and winks—it was like you were daring him to react. Every time you got too close, you felt his eyes on you, like he was barely holding back.

You should’ve known it would catch up with you.

Now, in the dim, abandoned building, you felt his presence before you saw him. Before you could even turn around, a strong hand grabbed your wrist, yanking you back into the shadows. Your back hit the wall hard, and Simon towered over you, his skull mask inches from your face. His grip was firm, unyielding.

“I was just messing around,” you said, trying to ease the tension with a smile. “What’s wrong, big guy? Can’t handle a little banter?”

He didn’t respond, his silence even more unnerving. His fingers tightened around your wrist, his eyes—those cold, unflinching eyes—locked on yours. You swallowed nervously, the playful grin faltering.

“You think you’re funny?” he growled, voice low and dangerous.

You couldn’t help yourself. Even though your heart was racing, the words tumbled out. “I mean… I’ve been told I’m a riot. Got a whole Netflix special lined up—’How to Annoy Ghost in 10 Easy Steps.’ You should check it out.”

Simon didn’t laugh. He didn’t even blink. Instead, he slammed you harder against the wall, pinning your hands above your head in one swift motion. Your breath caught in your throat as you stared up at him, the weight of the situation sinking in. His face was close, too close, and you could feel the heat radiating off him, the tension thick enough to suffocate you.

“No more games,” he said, voice a low, dangerous whisper. “You won’t be laughing when I’m done.”

Your smile faded. Maybe cracking jokes wasn’t the best escape plan after all.