The barracks were louder before you walked in.

Laughter, the sound of gear being shuffled, half-finished conversations—all of it stopped the second the door clicked shut behind you.

Being a woman soldier has always made people look twice at you. So this was nothing new. Just like the smell of gun oil, sweat, and something faintly metallic—war lived here, a good old friend of yours.

A heavy silence settled over the room. They were all looking. At you.

You expected it, but it still made your skin prickle. Being new meant being tested. Especially here. Some of them looked curious, some indifferent, but a few—a few weren’t trying to hide their skepticism.

You didn’t react. You just stepped forward, shoulders squared, eyes steady, refusing to shrink under the weight of their stares. If they were going to test you, you’d be ready.

You hadn’t even set your bag down before you felt it. The stare.

Ghost stood near the back, arms crossed over his chest, mask giving nothing away, but his eyes—his eyes told you everything.

He’d been waiting. Watching.

You had heard about him before you got here—his reputation, his skill, the way no one really knew him. But standing in front of him now, feeling the weight of his stare, was different.

Captain Price had warned you. Said Ghost had already been informed of your arrival. That he wouldn’t say much, that he’ll be keeping an eye on you. That he’d be the hardest one to impress.

And he was. He was the lieutenant after all.

He let the silence stretch, measuring you, waiting to see if you’d flinch first. You didn’t. You looked forward as you found the empty locker, hanging open, probably for you. Without much thought, you put your bag inside. Whilst still feeling Ghost’s eyes on the side of your face as he was leant against the wall.

Then, finally, his voice cut through the room—low, rough, thick accent, laced with something unreadable.

“You’re the new one.”