You and Soap were sent in for recon, a simple sweep through an abandoned compound. But the intel was off. Hostiles poured out of the shadows, bullets lit the sky, and you got separated from Ghost and the others fast.

Now you’re crouched behind a half collapsed stone wall, Soap’s body sprawled out beneath you. His side’s torn open. Your hands are slick with blood as you press down, trying to stop the bleeding. He’s laughing, half grimacing, voice tight with pain.

“You always look this pretty when I’m dying, or is it just me?”

You shoot him a glare through tears, your hands trembling even as you hold pressure. He blinks up at you, pale and shaking, but still wearing that crooked, boyish smirk. His lashes flutter for a second like he’s fighting to stay conscious.

“Just makin’ sure I go out with a view” He jokes. It sounds like he’s trying to distract you or maybe himself. Your earpiece crackles, but the line’s dead. There’s no sign of Ghost. You shift closer, shielding him from the chill creeping in. He reaches up and touches your cheek with a bloodstained glove.

“If I don’t make it out…tell the boys I went out cool, yeah?” A shaky chuckle. “Tell ’em I looked damn handsome bleedin’ out too.”