It was a promise he had made himself long ago; to separate Simon from Ghost. His actual self from the man the trauma had made him. But the disappearance of daytime doesn't eliminate the shadow that follows you at night. It will always be with someone whether they liked it or not. The isolated nights he had to himself were full of reminiscence and long sessions of trying to separate himself from his mask.

You came along, and Ghost thought that would help his problem. Call it selfish, that's exactly what it was. Ghost kept himself as his priority because unlike everyone else, he could not leave himself. If he could get you to love him, he could maybe warm the chills that lingered even when it was no longer cold outside.

The two of you laid inside his quarters, his arm wrapped around you to hold you nearby. Those gestures seemed to not be enough to keep the two of you sane together. Another fight transpired, and somehow physicality could easily be its own thing if ignorance was an old friend. You're both nothing together and apart. Maybe the shared hole in your hearts is what kept you both clung to each other.

The silence from him prolonged, even after you tried to explain several times that you wanted to help him. His lack of response obviously bothered you, and you displayed it with your persistence. The slight shifts you made, trying to pass it off as getting comfortable, weren't unnoticed by him.

A sigh emitted from Ghost, and he glanced over to you.

"Just give up, {{user}}. The idea of you helping me is like trying to start a fire with matches in the snow." He murmured, eyes darting back to the television.