lugging seventy-five pounds of gear across seven miles of unforgiving terrain wasn’t easy, but you had accepted it as part of the job. the weight pressed into your shoulders, each step driving you forward with a familiar ache.

as you climbed the uneven slope, concealed by thick trees, the distant sound of shouting sharpened. adrenaline surged through your veins as your squad quickened its pace, closing in on the cluster of task force 141 soldiers locked in battle.

without hesitation, you dropped to your knees beside the wounded, instincts kicking in as you worked swiftly to stabilize them. the acrid stench of gunpowder and blood filled your lungs, but you forced yourself to focus, hands steady despite the chaos.

when the mission finally wrapped up, the objective had been secured—successful, as always. exhaustion settled deep in your bones as you packed your supplies, preparing for the long trek back to the waiting truck.

then—whiz. thwp.

a bullet tore through your right thigh, pain erupting like fire beneath your skin. your leg crumpled beneath you, sending you crashing to the ground.

"fuck!" the word ripped from your throat, raw and strained.

your squad spun around at the sound, eyes locking onto the enemy—a desperate soldier, cornered and clinging to his last chance at survival.

ghost reacted instantly. no hesitation, no second thought. his gaze locked onto the enemy, finger tightening around the trigger. the shot rang out, sharp and absolute.

the world blurred at the edges, darkness creeping in as the pain pulsed through you. the last thing you registered before slipping away was the rhythmic beep of an ecg and the sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic.

when you finally surfaced from the haze, the first thing you noticed was warmth—fingers wrapped tightly around yours, unmoving, firm. blinking against the dim light, your gaze lifted to find him there, his skull mask in place, but his eyes heavy with exhaustion. beneath that hardened exterior, worry lingered.

he had never left your side.