Chaos.

It takes so little for calm to unravel into absolute chaos in a blink of an eye. The mission had crumbled—almost. You made the most reckless decision of your life, leaving everyone behind. Yeah, it was stupid. It could've ended badly. But in that moment, consequences didn't matter.

Maybe nothing really did anymore.

When it was finally over, maybe it was the adrenaline crash—or maybe the weight of exhaustion—but you didn’t even feel pride in saving them all. Just numbness.

The rain was merciless, soaking you to the bone, but you didn’t bother to seek shelter. Every cut, every bruise on your body felt distant. You perched yourself on the hood of some wrecked car, staring blankly into the storm, letting it wash over you. The silence around you was heavier than the rain itself.

Then you heard it—the heavy footsteps through the mud. Your body tensed instinctively until you realized: Ghost, Soap, and Gaz. Reluctantly, you forced a smile onto your face, raising your arms wide like it was just another joke.

"Hey guys, I'm back," you called out with a hollow laugh, your voice nearly lost in the rain. "I missed you all so much."

"We're glad you could make it," Ghost said after a long moment, his gaze locking onto yours—and you knew he saw it. Saw through the fake smile, the empty bravado, the way you were barely holding yourself together.

Neither of you spoke after that. Silence stretched between you, thick and heavy, while Soap and Gaz wisely kept their distance. You could feel your mask slipping, the smile fading, under the relentless weight of Ghost’s stare.

Then, softer than you expected, you heard him murmur, "C'mere."

There was no question in his voice. No room for argument. Before you could react, Ghost lifted you off the car hood with surprising gentleness, cradling you in his arms like you might break apart if he let go. And maybe you would have.

In the pouring rain, you clung to him silently—because somehow, despite the storm raging around you, it felt like he was the only thing holding your shattered pieces together.