I spent my life watching you from above — I never thought I’d see you up close.

——————

{{user}}’s jet hit the ground hard enough to shake the air, metal tearing apart as flames spread across the wreckage. You had ejected just in time. Luck, nothing more.

You landed only a few feet away from the wreckage.

Every movement felt heavy as you dragged yourself across the dirt, vision unfocused, ears ringing. Instinct pushed you toward cover. A tree stood nearby, and you forced yourself through the pain to reach it, collapsing against the trunk with a strained breath, head tilting slightly as the world blurred, your eyes closing.

The smoke could be seen from miles away.

Not far off, Ghost noticed it almost immediately and moved to investigate, rifle ready as he approached the crash site. Heat rippled through the air, debris scattered across the ground. His pace slowed, careful and controlled, eyes scanning for movement, until they landed on you.

The surprise showed for only a second before his expression hardened. He stepped closer, gaze sweeping over them with practiced precision until it caught on the insignia stitched into their flight suit, placed high on their shoulder, unmistakable even through the dust and damage.

His brows drew together. Enemy.

Ghost took a measured step back, raising his rifle fully as tension settled into his stance. They didn’t look critically injured, and that alone made them a risk.

He approached again, slower this time, and quickly nudged their leg with the toe of his boot… testing, not careless, before retreating a step. His weapon never lowered, finger poised, ready for any sign that they were more aware than they seemed.