Chapter Text
As soon as they made it back, Simon opened up a laptop-like device,trying to video chat with Price about the events. Price picked up quickly “got something to report?”. Johnny nodded and ghost showed him the map and note “managed to snatch these, we're ready to go back to base now”.
Price smiled “nice work boys, I'll send a helicopter over to you immediately, expect it at your location in about a few hours”, then he hung up and ghost closed the laptop.
They both began packing up their stuff in silence, it didn't take long to pack up the tent and everything else they brought. Now they just had to wait for a few hours to go back. Both of them got a certain pain in their stomachs, that pain of the situation still stuck in their heads, the feeling that they know one of them will break and bring it up anytime now.
They were sat down near the lake, silent except for the sound of running water, and the birds occasionally chirping. They both took awkward glances at each other discreetly. Eventually their eyes met accidentally though, and the silence was broken, they both said at the same time “we need to talk”.
Soap sighed and Simon's stance showed the nervousness he was feeling, as well as the look in his eyes. “Why didn't you just tell me earlier.. Like maybe before we started sending pictures..” Johnny asked, the vulnerability slipping into his tone. Simon's heart shattered a little more, Johnny was completely right, he should've told before Johnny sent him those photos.
“Johnny.. You're right, I don't have a good excuse for that, all I can say is I was nervous”, Soap sighed, he knew ghost was being honest, he still trusted ghost despite the whole situation. Ghost always had his back, saved him countless times, they worked better than anyone else… and they could work through this.
“Ghost, I dinnae want to fight with ye, I hate being mad at you.. “ he said with a sad face and a sad tone. Simon instinctively put his hand on soap's face, holding it softly and facing soap towards him. “Johnny, we don't have to fight, we can find a way to get through this without a fight” he said reassuringly and gently.
Johnny's eyes which were glanced away from Simon's eyes suddenly darted up to face him. “Do ye promise to never do something like that again? Damn it Simon.. I just want you to be honest to me”.
Simon looked into his eyes sincerely “I never want to lie to you, I know I did.. But.. I promise, never again” he said, his tone true, his amber eyes gazing over soaps beautiful diamond eyes. Soap smiled a little “I believe ye Simon.. I do.. “ he said as his gaze lingered far too long, the temptation to pull him close and kiss him to forget about all the pain he felt from everything was strong.
Ghost pulled him close, wrapping his arm around soaps waist and holding his hand gently, rubbing it with his thumb. “Ghost I…” he said with pained and saddened eyes, before he could finish, ghost pulled him between his legs, laying soaps head gently on his chest, hands still held together as his arm was wrapped around his waist pulling him in comfortably. “I know Johnny… I know sweetheart” he cooed softly.
Soap didn't fight his touch away, he accepted the warmth of Simon, the warmth he craved, the warmth he dreamt of every day since he'd met the man.
Soap let the sound of ghosts' fast heartbeat calm him down. “Simon..?” he said in a whisper, “Johnny” he replied back soft and caring. “Ye know.. Even when I was talking to Riley and looking at the pictures.. It was you I thought of, it was you I always loved” he confessed.
“I always loved you too, I never would've imagined an annoyingly handsome short tempered Scottish man would be the one to steal my heart.. Never knew I even had a heart” the mood was instantly lightened when soap let out a chuckle to ghosts words ‘annoyingly handsome and short tempered’.
“What do ye mean?, you have a big heart Simon” he said as he looked up at Simon, his eyes already staring lovingly at soap. “Thought I was just a ghost, I had no time for feelings other than hatred and pain.. But then you came and reminded me I could feel more.. Reminded me I could be happy” he said as he smiled underneath the mask.
“Simon.. You really mean that?”, his heart was beating fast knowing just how much he meant to ghost. “Yes Johnny.. You make my life worth living, you give me purpose” he admitted. Soap was so happy he started smiling wide and his gaze softening by the second “aye?, what purpose is that?” He asked in a curious and loving tone.
“To protect you, to love you even after death”, Soap's heart melted, he felt his eyes tearing up with joy and pure love. He laughed at himself for being so emotional and happy that his eyes were watering. “Simon.. I love you” he said, barely being able to contain his emotions.
“I love you too Johnny” he said as he took off his mask, revealing his face to Johnny. Revealing his smile and how it creases on his face. Before Simon could say another word, Johnny pulled him into a kiss. Their lips interlocking, it felt like magic, like their lips were made for each other. They couldn't stop kissing, taking in the taste of each other's lips, it was intoxicating.
As they kissed, soap’s hands traveled to Simon's wavy blonde hair, feeling how soft it was, his hands making their way down to his neck and wrapping around it. Simon's left hand was steadily laying on soap’s thigh whilst his right hand was gently holding soap's cheek, rubbing it gently with his thumb.
They gasped for air, just staring into each other's eyes now, and John's eyes traveling around Simon's perfect face. “You're so fuckin’ beautiful” he said, in awe of Simon. He took Simon's face into his hands and placed gentle kisses on each scar the man had. Simon melted at this, his heart warming knowing that Johnny found his scars beautiful.
Suddenly a helicopter landed near them. They jumped up and away from each other like they weren't just confessing their love and kissing. Simon quickly put his mask back on as Nikolai came to bring them back to base, they sat down next to each other on the way back, holding hands discreetly, soap eventually leaning his head on Simon's shoulder. Simon gladly let him, never wanting soap's head to leave the area between his shoulder and neck.
