Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

„ayooo what's up guys!!"
Soap grinned into the little camera that he held up over his and Gaz' head, winking at the little black lens.

„We are officially moved in, in our new apartment!" Gaz shouted and spread his arms wide, almost falling off the cardboard box that he had settled on.

Soap laughed, shaking his head at his friend, before turning back to the camera.
„Once this is out we will already be working on the most amazing room tour you guys have ever seen!"

Gaz cheered, clapping his hands to wrap the whole thing up and Soap turned the camera off.

„a shame we didn't record you struggling to get the washing machine inside."

The man laughed, getting up to get back to the couch assembling. They had agreed to start with that. The rest of the furniture could follow, but no home was a good home without a couch.

Soap already hated himself for having to build up their entire set up, plus Gaz' new gaming system. They'd probably spend the entire night with searching the right cables.

They finished up a little later, both dropping onto the couch with a groan. Soap tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling, already thinking of the to-do list and regretting his life choices.

„You know what we should do before we start anything else? Say hi to our neighbors." Gaz reminded him and Soap agreed. Saving grace Kyle Garrick.

That would be an easy start. A few smiles and hellos, even if it was awkward and uncomfortable, and they'd never have a problem here again. Helping sometimes with carrying groceries, maybe they could find out if animals were allowed?

They started at the level right above them, meeting a young couple, that had also moved in quite recently and warned them about the regular power-outs.
Soap took that information better than Gaz, who hissed, knowing that lots of footage would go down the drain, if that would ever happen in the wrong moment.

„We need a way to save every filming second." he whispered to soap, while they were waiting for the next door to open. A wonderful old lady opened, explaining how long she had lived here already and which family members they would see regularly. Apparently she had lots of grandchildren, that were going to universities all around the country. Soap decided to write that down later, so he wouldn't forget.

They stopped for the one door on their level, Gaz knocking. Soap was curious to know who they'd see the most. Hopefully someone nice...

The door stayed shut.
Soap checked his watch. „I mean.. some people work.. we should come back later."
Gaz agreed and they made their way down to the lowest level, two more doors waiting for them.

One hid a family, a lesbian couple with two adorable children that reminded Soap way too much of his nieces.

Gaz knocked on the last door, dog barking halling through it. Great. Soap loved dogs, he really did... but something about the loud barking after a knock gave him an unpleasant feeling.

A man opened the door, older of age and Soap tried not to let his facial expression slip at the disgusting smell that faced them. A small look at Gaz told him that his best friend was thinking the same.

„Yeah?" the man barked and soap tried to refrain from laughter at how similar dog and owner could sound.

„Uh, we're the new tenants.. the apartment over you? 2a?" Gaz tried and smiled politely.

The man was visibly thinking, before he nodded. „good to meet you boys."

Oh good, he was nice.
„Yeah, we just wanted to say hello." Soap added.

The man nodded, rubbing his hand over his face, before looking up, „Any problems yet?"

They immediately shared a small look. „Problems? N-no Sir, no problems at all."
Soap didn't like this. He had been hoping the power-out problem would be the worst case of this apartment. They had searched weeks for something that was big enough and affordable. He didn't want to go through it all again.

„Sounds to me like you haven't met him yet." the man snarled. „2b, right Next to you, the big guy?"

Big guy?

„Uh.. no Sir, no big guy.. we knocked but.. no one opened." Gaz tried, clearly also thrown off by the mans weird behavior.

The man chuckled, in a sarcastic manner. „Yeah that I believe. Only opens when he feels like it, that bastard."

Soap shared another look with his best friend. Their neighbor was a problem? That wasn't great. Gaz shrugged at him, almost unnoticeable, in the same way he always did when he had the thought that had given them their YouTube fame: if it's that bad, it can be a good story.
Soap almost smiled at that, but was still too alarmed.
„Uh I'm sorry to ask, Sir.. did something happen with that person?"

The old man scratched his beard, before nodding. „Well he's creeping everyone out with his stupid mask and all. You'll see. And a few months ago he shoved me, that asshole."

Gaz eyebrows shot up. „He shoved you?"

„Yeah,yeah.. didn't call the police though, we don't need that kind here."

That, Soap could at least understand. He nodded slowly, still unsure what to make of it. This was a small catastrophe for itself. They had just moved here, they were looking for a good space to film and make content. No one needed a creepy ass neighbor that even had gotten physical in the past...
It wasn't that he was scared of it. He wasn't weak, he wasn't small and their training had done more for them in these terms, even if he hadn't fought anyone since retiring. But he'd be fine, if anyone tried to pull funny shit.

They said their goodbyes, making their way back up and back into their apartment. Soap stopped in the hallway, looking at the door of 2b.
Unfortunately, it didn't make him smarter. It looked like any other door inside here. No special scratches, nothing.

For a small moment he felt ridiculous, for at least expecting some scratches. The man that lived here could be an aggressive asshole, but not a werewolf.

Choosing to give up, he followed Gaz inside, hoping that moving here hadn't been a wrong decision.

Chapter Text

„Duuuuude!!"

Soap turned away from the livestream, from where he had been been busy explaining his current training plan, to Gaz, who had just come back from getting groceries.

Gaz didn't hesitate, stepping right into the picture. They both didn't care, always enjoying small realistic moments of living together to be cut into their videos or be seen in livestreams like now. It made them more human to their fanbase.
„You will not believe who I just saw."

Soap grinned into the camera, before giving the man his demanded attention. „Who?"

„Our creepy neighbor! The one that the dude under us told us about!"

Soaps eyes widened. Oh. They were living here for a week now, it was clear that at one point, they'd meet whoever this person was. And after all, the neighbor hadn't bothered them so far. Which was probably a good sign.
„And?"

„Didn't see much of him. He was in front of me on the stairs, had some kind of ski mask on?"

That made the alarm bells in his head ring. „Ski mask?! And you're sure it was the dude? That could have been a robber!"

„A robber with a key?" Gaz raised both brows in disbelief and soap revalued.
„Yeah okay makes no sense. But a ski mask?"

„I don't know dude, maybe a burn victim or something? They wear those things."

Soap frowned at that. A burn victim sounded terrible. And the chat seemed to agree with him, a mixed reaction. Most people were questioning who that person was.

„Oh.. you've caused some confusion." Soap smiled awkwardly at his best friend who sat down in Soaps lap to explain to the chat.
„So we have This neighbor, we've been warned about him.. basically apparently a real creepy dude or something, it's all very mysterious..."

In mere seconds the chat filled with questions about the certain someone. Especially if the neighbor was hot.

Soap laughed. Of course the Internet thought that someone mysterious was hot.

„Oh we don't know that yet. But maybe we should find out..." Gaz grinned and leaned back against soap, who tried to push him off. „You're heavy, dude!"

Gaz laughed, jumping off and running out to pack the groceries away. Meanwhile the chat exploded, asking what the hell Gaz had meant with that.
Soap sighed, with a tired grin. „No idea, guys. You know Gaz."

He spent some more time on stream until he smelled Gaz cooking and decided that he had socialized with the fans enough for the day. He said his goodbyes, turning off the stream to go find his best friend.

„You've fueled their fanfiction." he commented, staying in the doorway to watch the man cook.

Gaz laughed. „sorry, man, you need more chairs in that room."

Soap just shook his head in disbelief. Most of their fanbase was nice, respectful. But every content creator knew that there were always a couple bad apples. A couple people that mistook affection between friends for something more... and who could blame them? Gaz was very attractive, it just had never sparked between them.

„What did you mean?" he snatched a plate out of the cupboard to steal some of the vegetable-pan.

„huh?" Gaz was also filling himself a plate.

„With finding out. About the creepy neighbor." Soap clarified, fishing out cutlery for both of them to bring to the makeshift table.

„Oh.." Gaz stuffed his mouth once they had sat down. „just thought it would be a good video idea. You know, easy to build up. We started with telling them about him, next thing could be a storytime, then we could try to do some detective work and film that?"

Soap tilted his head with a frown. „I don't know man.. seems kind of morally wrong to me."

Gaz thought about it aswell. „I think it's fine. After all, we're not showing his face-„

„Very funny."

„I'm not joking, wait. We are not mentioning name or anything. We will not reveal anything. Only play around a little and cut it all together. We won't even bother him. And hey, if you're so worried, we can ask him in the end. Or pay him to play the angry neighbor."

Soap thought about it. Technically, Gaz was right. They would do no harm, nor would they bother anyone by making it all a little story. And who knew, they had paid people for their videos before and helped them out a lot.

„Fine. But the moment we feel like crossing a line, we stop immediately." Soap agreed, earning a big grin from his roommate. Great.

Chapter Text

The set-up was easy. Over the next two streams they read the questions about their neighbor out loud, causing people to jump in on the topic.
Soap was as always, incredibly impressed by how well Gaz understood the whole business and social media thing. He was the sole reason the whole thing worked, because as much fun Soap had doing all that, he had a huge distrust towards fanbases and algorithms. But with Gaz help it had all turned into an amazing and fun thing.

Until Gaz took his business brain as far as to include soap in one of his evil plans.

„I'm supposed to do what?!"

„You will go over and ask him for a cup of sugar." Gaz grinned over his phone, Soap knowing that he was probably recording the whole thing. Alright, content.

„And how exactly is that supposed to help?" Soap scoffed, knowing the answer already.

Gaz rolled his eyes at his best friends fake stupidity. „Come on, man. You don't wanna find out who this is? Asking him something simple as a neighbor isn't too much!"

Soap groaned softly. Gaz had a point. It was totally normal to ask a neighbor for something. And that way, they'd be able to open contact.

„Okay, I get it. Now tell me why I have to do it??" Soap sighed, immediately regretting the question when he saw Gaz' grin.
„...you're playing the I'm black he could be racist-card, aren't you?"

Gaz laughed and nodded. „Oh absolutely. Come on, pretty boy. Grab a cup!"

Soap figured it wouldn't make sense to fight it, trying to grab the most normal cup they owned. He picked the one with the scottish flags, that Gaz had gifted him for Christmas a couple years ago.

He let his roommate take a last picture of him for the story, holding up the empty cup and a thumbs up. Great. Into the battle then.

He closed the door behind him, knowing damn well that Gaz would keep the camera entertained and wait for him to return.

He knocked, careful at first, adding another harder hit after.

Maybe he would be lucky and no one would be home? Maybe he could still dodge, run back and lie?

Unfortunately, hearing footsteps approach, he realized that he wasn't that lucky.

The door swung open to reveal a mass of a man, dressed in all black and long sleeves. Soap scanned the mans arms and body completely in awe of the mans training, before realizing that this was a human being and he had to make eye contact.

His eyes shot up to be met with a pair of brown eyes, the only thing visible in a ski mask with a skull print. It looked like one of the balaclavas he had seen soldiers wear.

„Can I help you?" the mans deep voice growled and Soap hated himself for noticing how attractive the man sounded.

„Uh... uh Yeah, hi. Sorry. I'm the neighbor. Over there!" he pointed to his door, already hating himself for how awkward he had to be.

The man took a deep breath, shoulders visibly releasing tension. „Yes?"

Why was he so relaxed now? Who or what had he expected? Was this man dangerous? Or scared? Oh fuck he had been asked a question.

„Right, sorry.." soap scrambled, holding up the mug. „I.. need sugar. Uh. I mean... I'm baking and.. and I ran out of sugar and it would be nice if.. uh.."

The man didn't budge at all. Tough crowd.

„If I could lend some sugar. Or actually, if you could gift it to me, I don't know if people ever return sugar, I mean I can also bring you some cookies later, you know a kind of-„

„How much?" the man interrupted Soaps rambling, throwing him off completely.

„Uh- yes of course. Just this cup please..." he held it out, the man reaching out and soap only now noticing that he was wearing gloves. What kind of creep was wearing gloves inside his house?

Luckily, he was alone for a second to think, the man apparently getting sugar. Or maybe the door would also close and his mug would be gone forever.

Which would be fair honestly. And from what their downstairs neighbor had described, the dude was a total asshole.

Soap wasn't left alone for long, the man returning with not only an empty cup, but a whole package of sugar.
„Just take it. I have multiple."

Soap was surprised, his head immediately concluding that the man probably just wanted him not to come back for more.

„Right... uh.. thanks man. Highly appreciated. Will bring ya cookies as a thanks, uh... man."

He didn't know how to address him.

„Yeah." the big man agreed, closing the door in front of soaps face.

Fair. Soap nodded, returning to Gaz who was waiting with camera and the brightest shit-eating grin.

„Dude, what happened?"

„...he gifted me a package of sugar and I need to learn how to bake immediately."

Chapter Text

„This will be a disaster." Soap laughed into the camera, flour everywhere.

Gaz snorted behind the camera. „Will be?! Dude it already is."

They had tried their best to bake cookies to say thank you to their neighbor next door. Soap secretly hated himself for promising the man anything. He should've just taken the goddamn sugar or even better, tell Gaz to get the sugar himself.

But here they were, standing in their messed up kitchen, Gaz filming different parts of their baking tries to cut together in a messy montage later. And as terrible it was, Soap was kinda excited to see it, their montages being his favorite thing.

Soap checked the oven. „They're done I think...?"

He got them out and after a short texture and taste test, they agreed that it was alright. Good enough to gift to a potentially very rude neighbor. Even when soap started to think that that story wasn't even close to the truth. There had to be something else going on.

Gaz helped him pick a plate and put a couple of the prettiest cookies on there, even finding a bit of powdered sugar to make it all look professional.

„Honestly, guys, I think Soap should open a baking channel."

Soap cackled. „Watch out KönigsBakesale, I'm coming for you."

Soap found himself in front of the other man's door again a minute later, knocking carefully. Had that been loud enough? Should he knock again? But knocking so often would be weird...

Luckily and once again the door swung open to reveal the big masked man. „Out of flour now?" he deadpanned, which caught soap off guard.

Had that been a joke?

„No. No, I thought you'd want these." he held out the plate with the cookie, watching the man scan the plate.

„You made those?"

„Ah yes Sir." Soap said before he could stop himself, immediately hating himself.

The other looked up somewhat surprised, but didn't comment on the Sir thing, just taking the plate.

„Thank you..." the big dark man said and soap remembered that it was his turn to speak again.

„Right... just give me the plate back whenever! I.. uh.. Yeah, thanks. Bye."

He walked backwards as if fleeing, turning on his heel once he was close enough to their own door, the tension flooding from his shoulders when he heard the door behind him click. God, that had been awkward.

Gaz was waiting back in the apartment, the biggest grin on his face. Their earlier story had cracked some records and videos were already going around on other platforms.

Somehow they managed to film a time-lapse cleanup of the kitchen, before saying their goodbyes into their camera.

„hope it was fun to see us struggle to bake, have a nice day!"

The rest of the evening went by easy. Soap unpacked a few more boxes, while Gaz was running around, Alex on the other side of his phone, discussing some plans for the next conventions.

Soap was still trying to get used to being one of the bigger creators. Of course, they had been to cons before, but only with smaller numbers and a way smaller fanbase.

Gaz had warned him back then, that the next time they'd be there, they would be recognized a lot more. But it still was insane to him, somehow.

Especially because Gaz was planning a panel with AleRudyGames, an account that had taught Soap a lot about social interactions with fans.

Just for a moment he played a little game of „what if" in his head, imagining his miserable life if he didn't have Gaz.

Said man just hung up, grinning at Soap. „I'll go cut and make ready to upload then."

Chapter Text

„I hate everything about this." soap groaned, letting his head fall against the floor. He was crumbled together on their living room floor, Gaz next to him with a similar facial expression on his face.

They wanted to give up. They had been delivered lots of new furniture this morning and as well Gaz was with building up their computers and set up systems... furniture was not their strong suit at all.

They had somehow managed their new kitchen table, both glad they wouldn't need to eat from their makeshift table anymore, that Soap had put together out of cardboard boxes.

„this can't be that hard. It physically cannot be that hard." Gaz pointed out and let the instruction in his hand drop to the floor.
„Seriously, I'm about to call Pr-„

„We are not calling him!" Soap stopped Gaz immediately.
„We've embarrassed ourselves enough. He can visit when the flat looks like a flat."

Gaz smiled but nodded. „Fine. What then. We need to ask someone for help because if I need to look at these instructions once more I'll explode."

Soap sighed and rubbed over his face. „Okay uhhh.. fuck i can't believe I'm proposing this.. but what about the neighbor?"

Gaz looked at Soap like he had just proposed to drop YouTube and do only fans, the shock moving to a grin the longer the man thought about it.

„I love that you're starting to think more business, Soap."

„Hey, I'm not thinking business!" Soap argued. „But this dude is huge. Buff. And if he has a whole pack of sugar at home that he doesn't need, maybe he also knows how to build up furniture."

Gaz snorted. „That does not make sense whatsoever dude. But sure. Ask him. It will be good for the video."

„Wait... me?!“

After a pretty short discussion, Soap found himself in the hallway again. How did he get here? How did this make sense? It had been a stupid idea. Out of pure desperation, really.

He carefully moved towards the door, knocking real quick. Shit maybe that had been too quick. But he couldn't knock again... he'd have to wait.

No footsteps. Nothing.
„Thank fucking god."

Soap sighed, somehow relieved that he wouldn't have to ask for help. He had been awkward enough to the big man, and even when he wasn't too bad with facial expressions, it was hard to read the man.

„Can I help you?"

Soap managed to not scream, jumping and turning on his heel, ready to fight.

He was met with a jacket, eyes traveling up to find a balaclava. Another one this time, however, leaving a bit more space out on the eyes.

Soap noticed himself staring, quickly looking down again. Had he seen... blonde lashes?

He only realized now that he had just jumped, stared and not said anything at all.

„Uhh sorry, Sir."

The man in front of him changed his weight distribution, gruffing slightly and Soap noticed that he was carrying bags. „Oh! Oh my god I'm in the way."

He stepped aside and the masked man stepped to his door to unlock it with his keys. From behind him, Soap was able to see something purple dangling from the key. Hm. Which crazy aggressive man had something purple on his chain.

The man moved inside, turning once more to Soap. „I'm out of sugar."

Soap blinked, before trying to laugh it off. „Oh yeah, no sugar needed this time. I'm.. in need of help."
The man froze in his movement for a second, before putting down his bag.

„Help?"

Shit now he had to tell the man that he was utterly desperate for help with a bit of furniture.

„ever bought something from IKEA?" Soap tried and was met with absolutely no reaction from the other. Fine this wouldn't work.

„are you racist?"

He had no idea why he had asked that. God.

The man tensed up. „What?"

„Sorry, sorry uh.. my roommate and I really need help with our furniture, okay? I don't like asking you either and I would have sent my roommate to ask but if you're racist he has reason not to and-„

„I'm not."

„Huh, what?" Soap was ripped out of his thoughts there.

„I'm not racist. I need to put these things in the fridge, then I'll be there." he gave him a small nod, before closing the door into his face.

Soap needed around 4 entire seconds to register what had just happened.

The man had offered help. Or.. agreed on helping.

Soap hurried back to their apartment so he wouldn't stand in the way when the man would return. Gaz looked up from his phone, still laying on the floor. „And? Did he shove you?"

„worse. He's gonna be here in a couple minutes to help us."

Chapter Text

„Right. Creepy neighbor. In our apartment. In a couple of minutes." Gaz stretched and grinned at Soap, who was still in the realization process.

„Right okay, how bad can it be, man? He's a dude, we're dudes, he's helping us with some furniture." Soap tried to talk it cool, making Gaz laugh.

„You know that there's no reason to be that nervous, right? The neighbor from downstairs could have lied. Hell, we can ask the man for his perspective!"

Soap tried to be positive and nodded slowly, looking around to check if there was anything he should move aside, Gaz immediately noticing and making fun of him for the remaining time.

Soap actually didn't expect it to knock. The moment it did he wasn't sure if he hadn't done some fatal mistake. Until the last second he had been sure that the man had made fun of him and had agreed to come as a joke.

Gaz snorted, got up and walked over instead of Soap, opening the door and freezing, before letting out a wolf whistle.

„You didn't tell me he's a hunk of a man."

The man in the mask scoffed, or so it seemed with the movement of his shoulders. It almost looked like he was a gun that was loading.

„I can hear you." the man's deep voice cut through the fabric.

Gaz grinned. „Yeah, lad, that's kind of the point."

Soap jumped up, deeming it as enough and trying to coax the man into the room.
„Sorry, sorry, he doesn't mean it. He's.. hes drunk."

The man's eyes wandered from Gaz to Soap and then back to Gaz.
„you're drunk?"

Gaz giggled. „Nope. Soap just talks bullshit when he's nervous."

Now the eyes wandered back to Soap, the tone in his voice showing disbelief, the question spat like an old piece of gum.

„Your name is Soap?"

Oh for fucks sake. Soap groaned. „Just. Would you step inside?!"

The man moved, thank fucking god, and Soap was able to close the door behind him.
Only now he noticed that the big man was carrying a bag with him and had noticed that said bag had been noticed.

„I wasn't sure you had tools." the man shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world, looking at the mess in the living room.

He muttered a small Jesus under his breath before crouching down and grabbing the instructions.

For a couple of seconds Soap and Gaz just stood there, staring at the big man, before they shared a look, realizing they thought the same.

This was bizarre. Crazy even. There was a huge, masked man that they had heard terrible things about in their living room, crouched down to build their furniture.

They both shrugged at each other, before Gaz started to grin. It was that goddamn content-grin again and Soap wanted to strangle him for it. Not now, Kyle.

„Are you done staring at my back?" the voice made them both jump.

„Uh, sorry... man." Soap shrugged at Gaz, who shrugged back once more.

„Ghost."

„Huh? What?" Soap wasn't sure he heard that right.

„Name's Ghost."

Gaz snorted. „You're making fun of Soap but your name is Ghost? You're kidding."

What they heard next was close to a chuckle. „fair point. Yeah."

Chapter Text

Soap felt more comfortable now, moving around the man to sit down on a cardboard box, Gaz walking to the kitchen to grab something to drink, also grabbing a can for Ghost.

„How did you get the nickname? Ghost..." Soap turned the name in his mouth like it was a piece of candy.

„Have you seen me?" the man responded dryly, not looking up from his tool bag and looking for the right tool.

Gaz burst out in laughter. „God I love the guy!"

Ghost looked up to Gaz with  the same „I can hear you" in his eyes like before, just not needing to say it this time.

Gaz responded by winking at him and Soap once more admired the courage of his best friend. How was he never scared? Or worried, in the slightest? It wasn't that Gaz was stupid, he was just... confident. With his looks, with his character and especially with his ass-kicking abilities if needed.

Gaz smiled at soap for a small second, before putting his attention back on Ghost. It was interesting, to see this big buff man crouching on the floor like that.

„No but seriously." Soap tried to get back to the topic, to get away from the weird feeling that was there when he caught himself watching Ghost move with his tools too long.
„how did you get the nickname?"

Ghost shrugged, working in silence a little longer, his eyes moving over the wood in his hands.
„Military nickname. Nothing special."

Soap and Gaz were surprised by that. „You served aswell?" Gaz grinned. „Nice."

Ghost looked up in surprise. „Oh. You guys seem a bit too good for military."

Gaz laughed at that. „Yeah man, we have to be. We both were picked out for SAS, but got into an helicopter crash right before it. For me it's the shoulder, for Soap it's the knee. Active duty impossible."

Ghost nodded. SAS. Interesting.

„it was hard to believe we could find anything new." Soap nodded, looking at his drink for a bit too long. „But we had lots of time in the hospital together and Gaz had all those ideas. So we took a chance."

Ghost looked over to some of their equipment that was standing in the corner of the rooms, a camera still on there.

„...to become pornstars?" he carefully looked back at them, clearly trying to be judgement free.

They both broke out in laughter, Ghost shrugging. Wasn't that crazy to him. They were both very attractive men.

„No, but hell, our fans would love it." Gaz grinned.
„We're YouTubers. And Streamers, lately." Soap clarified, still chuckling. „We started out with gym content, then told some veteran stories, then moved on to lifestyle and gaming."

He tried to ignore the fact that he probably shouldn't tell Ghost any of this. If this man would search online, he'd find them talking about him. He'd find their latest video, where Soap tried to bake him something in return. He'd find some cut-together videos of fans, of all the moments where the boys had talked about their creepy neighbor in their content.

„Nothing for me." Ghost nodded and Soap was somehow relieved.

„Seriously? Dude I bet your veteran stories would be insane. Also masked guys? The internet loves masked guys." Gaz shook his head, turning to Soap.
„Think of the Spec Ops guys. Or corpse."

„There's a guy with a mask that's called corpse?" Ghosts voice almost sounded amused.

Soap chuckled. „Yeah. But that's out of our reach. We're just smaller content creators. Enough to live of, with the military bonus."

Ghost nodded in a way that said „this I understand" and put two pieces together.

„And you? What do you work as?" Gaz was curious, Soap trying not to be nervous about that.
Why did it make him nervous?

„I'm a bodyguard of a club. Know the owner personally." he hummed.

„Wow that makes sense!" Gaz laughed and Ghost huffed, pushing the last screw in.

Chapter Text

Ghost worked immensely quick and Soap wasn't sure if it was to get away from him and Gaz and their curious questions or if he was just really good at it.

It was almost entrancing, to watch the man's black gloves move so quickly.

„Soap! My brother in Christ." Gaz pushed him, Soap jumping and looking away from Ghost’s hands, up to Ghost’s face-
And the brown eyes that were staring at him through the eyeholes. Probably have been staring. For a while.
Fuck.

„Uh what?"

„Ghost said he's done in a few minutes. I asked you if you want to stream tonight or if we're pushing it."

Soap managed to pull his eyes off of Ghost, looking at Gaz now. Right. Right. He knew that Ghost was still staring at him and he couldn't blame him, after not reacting for so long.

„Uh.. stream sounds good! We wanted to do that... reaction thing right?"

Why was he so.. distracted? Was his brain so overwhelmed with the realization that there was a real living human under there?

„Yeah, man, that reaction thing." Gaz laughed lightly and Soap knew that he had been caught.

There was almost nothing Gaz didn't notice about him and it would have bothered him if it hadn't saved his ass so many times.

Ghost finished, packed his tools and got up quietly, dusting his pants off.

„Do me a favor?" he asked, Soap perking up like a dog.

„Yeah? Yes of course."

Gaz had to hide his grin behind his hand. Yeah okay shit, Soap had been caught-caught.

„Next time you need help, just knock the door. Don't ask me if I'm racist." Ghost got a notebook out, scribbling down something and ripped the piece of paper out, putting it down.
„Those are my working hours."

„You asked him if he's racist?" Gaz grinned and Soap gave him the most shut up-look he could manage, before trying to smile at Ghost.

„Yeah! Uh! Working hours! Sure. You got a number or something?" it was out of his mouth before he could think about if it was rude or not.

Ghost froze for a second, clearly thinking. „No."

With that he held a hand up to Gaz to sign his goodbye, before leaving the apartment.

Once the door fell into its lock Gaz hissed like he'd been burned.
„No... ouch. You okay, dude?"

Soap scoffed. „Yeah I'm okay. So he doesn't want me to have his number! That's fine! I'm not a child."

Gaz laughed. „mhm sure." he let his voice switch three octaves higher, to imitate his roommate better: „oh yes Ghost? Hm Ghost? Sure Ghost! I'll knock on the door with my wagging tail, Ghost!"

„Shut up, god!" soap laughed and threw one of the pillows they had on the floor after Gaz, who managed to move out of the way with laughter, pinning Ghost’s working hours to the fridge.

Soap smiled at it. It felt sweet. „Come on you idiot, let's get filming. I want to have some time to myself later."

„To think about Ghost?"

„KYLE!"

Chapter Text

„Soap."
Ghosts voice was like a Shepard calling him, like Soap was his lost sheep, radiating to that voice.
Hands, big hands. Covered in fabric, a warm, leathery feeling that stretched over his body, that made him tingle.
He felt it on his chest, knowing that his back was arching.
„Soap..." the voice again, dull, hence spoken through a mask. Yeah that made sense. Fuck those hands...
„It's not right." Soap heard himself say, shoving the man aside, half serious about it. Then, the hands were back. „Soap."
Fuck. The hands went everywhere. Everywhere, even places that Soap didn't want to even think off, trying to lightheartedly fight how good that felt. He was already giving in, he knew it- he knew-
„Soap!"
Wait this was way more stressed of a tone than he wanted to hear. He furrowed his brows. „What?"
„Soap you fucking bastard, you're moaning so loud I just had to end the fucking stream!"

What?

Soaps eyes ripped open. The voice wasn't ghost. And the hands weren't everywhere. They were on his shoulders, ungloved, with Gaz attached to them, who had apparently been trying to shake him awake.

„Oh... fuck."
Soap needed only a second to guess what was going on. Right. He had been tired. Said goodbye to the fans and left..had fallen asleep in his room, Kyle had decided to continue streaming on his own. The walls were thin so if he had dreamt too realistically and too loud...

„You just ruined all the dating- theories man." Gaz grinned.

Soap groaned, hiding his face in his pillows. „How loud was I? Do you think they got it?"

„I think they think you've got someone over. And not gonna lie, sounded like you were getting it good. Who was the lucky one?"

Bless Kyle Gaz Garrick for remembering Soap was bisexual. He sighed, sitting up and leaning against his headboard, glad his boner was already gone. Or hadn't even existed yet. He couldn't quite grasp what the hell he had dreamt.

„I don't want to talk about it."

„Someone I know?" Gaz grinned, gasping in false dramatics. „Price?"

„Oh my god, you've met my father! No!" Soap cried out, Gaz bending over with laughter.

„Alright my boy, keep your secrets. I'll go back to do some cutting then. Try to stay away from Twitter for the night, I don't think you want to read what they're saying." he laughed, patting his thigh and leaving the room.

Soap knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep like that, so he rose to use the bathroom and maybe stare at himself in the mirror.
Great. So he had dreamed of Ghost... his goddamn neighbor. The neighbor he had talked to maybe five times in total. Probably even less.
Was this even humanly possible? To be so interested in someone you barely knew?
The images of what he had just dreamed of taught him that yes, apparently it was possible.

In a desperate try to push the thoughts away, he turned a movie on, letting the lights in the dark room slowly lull him back to sleep. Better not think about it for too long.

Chapter Text

The next few days were full of work. They finished the entire set up, even managing to install the lights, streaming most of that too.

Soap wasn't sure in how long he hadn't left the apartment at normal waking hours anymore, but on the other hand that had a clear upside.

Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered his goddamn dream. He wasn't sure he'd be able to face Ghost.
So, embarrassingly enough and to Gaz' amusement, he checked the working hours of the man before leaving the apartment to get the much-needed groceries.

He still sneaked out of the door, not turning on the lights, trying to get past Ghosts door without looking up or making any sound.

„you're scared of me."

The deep voice made his blood turn cold. Fuck. Fuck. He knew that voice, unfortunately.

„What?" he squeezed out, turning to look up at Ghost, who had been standing in his door, arms crossed, leaned against the doorway.

His ski-mask was the skull-one again. Soap liked it. But that wasn't the point right now. Ghost had said something. And was now staring him down.

„I'm not scared!" Soap managed to say pretty quickly. He didn't want that to stand. He wasn't scared of ghost. Not at all. Unfortunately, not at all.

„Couple days ago you went through here humming, every fucking morning for your morning run." Ghost pointed out. Soap hadn't even noticed he did that.

„but not since I helped you with the furniture. You've been trying to walk quietly, even."

Soap had noticed that part. It had been on purpose.
„so my conclusion..." ghost shrugged. „Is that you're scared. It's no problem, you wouldn't be the first one. Just a shame really."

Soap noticed now that he wasn't wearing gloves. He hid his hands in his elbows, arms crossed well- but he wasn't wearing gloves.

He shook himself trying to get back to the conversation. For fucks sake, he was like a Victorian lord seeing some ankles.

„But it's not because I'm scared!" he argued, Ghost tilting his head at the confident answer. Not very scared behavior.
„Probably not scared enough..." Soap mumbled to himself while thinking what to say next.

„What was that?"

„Nothing!" God. He cleared his throat. „I just didn't want to bother, after seeing your working hours."
He begged that lie would be enough.

Ghosts demeanor changed visibly, shoulders rolling backwards. „Hm. Fine. You going grocery shopping?"

Wow. That was it? He was fine with that? He had believed him?
„Uhhh yeah. We are preparing for this con and we have worked hell for the past few days, I wanted to cook maybe. You need anything?"

Ghost waited for a moment, clearly thinking. „Strawberries. I have... a guest tomorrow so that would be nice."

Soaps eyebrows shot up. A guest. Strawberries. „Uh sure! Yeah! Obviously! I'll knock when I'm back."
Better get out of here before he'd react too obviously.
He stumbled down the stairs backwards, lifting his hand for a goodbye, before hurrying out of the building.

He hated being so awkward. Having so much energy from this weird and confusing situation he decided to jog the bit to the grocery store.

Ghost had waited outside for him, it dawned on him while crossing a street.
He had waited to talk to him about his behavior. A part of Soap felt like that meant something. The other made fun of said part.

Had he hurt the man with his behavior? Soap knew what it was like to be feared, he remembered his teenage years full of rage and scaring the hell out of his first girlfriend.
Quickly he swallowed the shame away again. It was years ago, he had to start forgiving himself. Jenna had, after all. She was pregnant now, with her second. Her husband Darius was great. Probably never angry.

He tried to shove the thought away quickly. No time to spiral.

He entered the grocery store, checking his list. Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries. Guest, guest, guest.

Okay he had to get the strawberries first, or else he wouldn't be able to think about anything else.

He went through the fruit aisle, searching for the prettiest red fruits.

Who would that guest be? A woman? A girlfriend maybe?

His head filled with images of someone doing very inappropriate things with strawberries. He shook himself, grabbing a pretty pack. God he didn't want to think about it. Was he buying sex-strawberries for his neighbor?

He tried to get the rest of the things they'd need and want quickly, not jogging home this time, careful with the pack of strawberries that was laying on top of everything else in the bag.

The music on his ears distracted him enough to not spiral again until he knocked on Ghosts door, lights on this time.
It opened quickly. „Hey." ghosts voice sounded tired, the mask not fully under his shirt, just lazily thrown over.

Somehow crazy that there was a human under that... Soap smiled. „I brought the strawberries."

„Right. Thank you." Ghost nodded, reaching for his wallet, but Soap shook his head quickly. „Leave it, it's fine. It's payback for the sugar and the furniture."

Ghost froze for a few seconds, nodding slowly. „Thanks. If you need help again..."

Soap smiled at that. „Thank you. It's-„

He was interrupted by the lights flickering, until they flickered off. „Fuck." he mumbled, eyes not getting enough time to get used to the dark, before his phone rang. Gaz.

„SOAP THE-„

„I'm out in the hallway." soap managed to say before Kyle continued screaming, the hanging up sound following immediately. Soap didn't even have time to react, before the door flew open.

„THE FUCKING FINISHED CUT, hi Ghost, ITS FUCKING GONE!" Gaz shouted, kicking against the door in frustration.

„Hey." Ghost nodded.

Soap sighed. That was terrible. Gaz put hours of work into his cuts.
„I can't I'm-„ Gaz acted like he was gonna put his head through the door.
Soap hummed. „I'll get someone who knows how to do data saving."

„I might know someone." ghost broke the silence that had formed with Gaz leaning against the wooden door with his head.
„Wait really?"

Ghost hummed in agreement, which was good, cause the little light that was caused from batteries in their apartment was not enough to even enlighten half of the huge figure in the doorway.

„Wow. That would be great." Soap heard himself say. It was hard to concentrate without being able to focus on his surroundings well.

„Yeah, I'll talk to her tomorrow. I'm sure she can help."

She. So the guest was a woman. Soap swallowed harshly. Fuck why did it feel bad. He was behaving ridiculously.

„Great!" he croaked out, the lights flickering on. „Oh thank god." Gaz mumbled. „Thanks, Ghost, really. Knock anytime. Soap, you coming?"
He already went back inside and soap just turned to Ghost to say goodbye.

She. She. She. Guest. Guest. Strawberries.

„See you. Have fun with the.. strawberries."

He turned on his heel and hurried away, not looking back.

Fuck.

Chapter Text

Gaz thought Soap was behaving weird.

Which wasn't weird, cause Soap was, as much as he loved him for it, the weirdest little fella he knew.

But this was different. He had gone to bed early, not trying to stay awake as long as possible, like the few days before. And he hadn't been humming when looking for something for breakfast.

None of that.
He was sulking, or sad, sitting at the kitchen table, brows furrowed together like when he was thinking about his teenage years too long.

Usually Gaz would ask, but he wanted to try something else. Maybe it was sadistic, maybe he felt like actually doing the right thing.

He checked Ghosts working hours without Soap noticing. Ghost was free. So at home.

„You think Ghost knows how to repair a faucet?" he tried, Soap looking up. „No idea." he shrugged, eyes droopy.

The hell. Gaz shook his head. „You know the guy, soap. Go ask him. We need someone to help, or else-„

„I can't." Soap sighed, playing with his coffee spoon now. At least half a good sign.

„Why not?"

„He's got a guest today." Soap shrugged. Gaz raised his brow. He could either call him out on it, which helped with childhood things or small things... or....

„Fine, if I hear or see him alone though, you go ask. Cause I'm not spending another night like this."

Soap nodded in agreement. Jesus. That kid was down bad. And down, too, which was bad.

He luckily got him in a better mood by making him sort the designs for their tables at the next convention, Soap always enjoying the design things.
He went out to grab some food for them, take-out would hopefully get Soap in the best mood possible.

He was currently walking up the stairs when he heard someone enter the building behind him. Heavy steps. He managed to look through the railing, seeing a big dark figure climb the stairs.
Ghost.

And even better. Ghost, alone.

He started to grin, hurrying to the apartment and throwing everything on the couch table.

„come on, hurry." he pulled Soap up and away from the tablet. „It's Ghost. Alone. No guest. Go, go, go. Faucet, remember?"

He pushed Soap out into the hallway, who tried to argue but couldn't.

A big, bulky and dark figure stood in front of Ghosts door and... knocked. Was this Ghost? Who knocks at their own door?

Unfortunately, Gaz closed the door in that moment, which made the person turn.
Fuck. Face.
Soap froze.

That was... a face. Which he hadn't expected. It hadn't been a mask, but a hoodie. Shit shit shit.
Was this Ghost?

The man smiled, before something like realization dawned on him and he grabbed for the door handle of the door he just knocked at.

There was pulling, that he had to pull against, holding the door closed. „I'm not alone!" he called against the door, the pulling to open immediately stopping.

Okay not Ghost. The voice wasnt Ghost, and whoever protected ghosts privacy wasn't him either.

„I am.. so sorry." Soap got out, the man exhaling with a smile and taking his hand off the doorknob. „It's okay. Hi." he held out his hand for Soap to shake. „You're the neighbor right?"

He knew who he was? Soap tried not to think too much into it, shaking the man's hand. It was ungloved and warm, but not uncomfortable.

With another look at him he realized that no, this really wasn't Ghost. Blue eyes. But similar, somehow. Blonde lashes, too.

The door swung open again, this time no one holding it close- with ghost behind it. Ghost with a mask on, tense and audibly exhaling when he saw soap.
„Fucks sake, maybe say something less cryptic next time you cunt." he hissed at the stranger, who laughed unbothered.

Wow, clearly friends. Or family. Soap smiled. „Sorry I didn't want to bother."

„You're not bothering at all!" the stranger smiled, much to Ghosts visible confusion.
„It's nice to finally-„
He was interrupted by Ghost.

„Tommy. Shove it. Let the man ask what he wanted. Go inside, you've been asked for." he stepped aside, letting the man, Tommy, pass, who turned to soap once more to whisper a „bossy much" and wink at him. Soap wasn't sure wether he was a fan or just confused.

Once he was out of immediate reach, Ghost leaned against the doorframe again, comfortably this time, arms behind his back. Probably ungloved, Soap made a mental note.

„What do you want?" Ghosts voice got him once back to reality. Man this was turning into a habit.

„Uhhh. Faucet." he spoke before thinking, earning a, very rare, huff from ghost. „I have one, yes, but you can't have it."

„No ours is broken, sorry." damn the jokes the man did were bad, but somehow Soap had the urge to giggle like a goddamn school girl.

„And you're asking me to repair it?" Ghost tilted his head.

„Yes, sorry." Soap felt like a broken record. Fucking ridiculous.

„Aight. I'll come over later, maybe with the IT-help, depending on her schedule." he nodded. „See you."
He went to close his door, Soap just staring until he heard the click of the door.

God, he'd need to get better at good-byes with how simple this man was.

Chapter Text

„Wait so... Tommy.. a guest in the house and he's coming later with the interesting woman you thought he was screwing?" Gaz tried to understand, Soap scoffing instead of groaning, hiding his face in his hands.

He had to find this funny or else...

„I didn't think he was screwing her." he tried to argue, earning a snort from Gaz.

„Yeah you were sad for no reason, man. You were also not nervous to talk to him since your little solo nighttime lesson."

Shit,Gaz really knew him way to well.

Soap blushed, managing a „fuck you, Kyle.", which made Gaz throw his head back in laughter. He had just gotten the confirmation he needed.
„So you're into our Personal masked magician from next door. Fine. What's the issue?" Gaz tried to be a good friend and Soap appreciated it, but he was too realistic in nature to be into girls talk now.

„He's military, Gaz. He's probably as straight as they come. You know we never fit in with those assholes."

Gaz thought about it, tilting his head while thinking from the left to the right and back.
„He doesn't seem like that."

„we've spoken maybe five times in total." Soap sighed. „It's just a.. stupid crush maybe: I'm sure it will pass with time." he groaned a couple seconds later, Gaz still grinning, when he realized what he had said.

He didn't even have time for a crush. This weekend Gaz would be gone and Soap would have to finish the convention plans, cause the weekend after, they'd have four days of fans, interactions and an immense need of social battery. Two days of meet & greets and two days with stage program.

„Stop panicking, god." Gaz chuckled. „He doesn't need to know. Just keep behaving like this. Be nice, talk to him. We're gone for a couple days next week, that will help too.."

Soap nodded slowly. „Yeah. Yeah maybe. Shit i'm too old for this shit."

Gaz shrugged. „It's not like you're making a shrine in your room and writing Soap loves Ghost all over your notes. Adults have crushes too, you're fine."

Soap nodded, trying to internalize that, getting up. „I'm gonna warm up some food. You also want anything?"

They ate and decided to play through their latest game hyperfixation a bit, getting to know the game before making it into content. Somehow it helped. The world wasn't ending with this crush and maybe Ghost was ugly too. Maybe it would pass. Or maybe he was a homophobe... Soap felt terrible for hoping it.

It knocked, all of the sudden, and Soap cursed quietly, getting up. „I got it."

He walked over to the door, opening it to find Ghost, in the black ski mask, with a... small pretty woman, that was incredibly tiny. „Hi." she smiled brightly.

„Hi..." Soap got out confused, looking at Ghost, who held up his toolbag. „Faucet and IT?" he asked and stepped in, right past Soap.

„Hi Ghost!" Gaz grinned, getting up. „I'll show you the faucet."

Ghost hummed and followed, Soap realizing that he was alone with the tiny, smiling woman and that he was supposed to do conversation now.

„show me the computers." she smiled up at him calmly.

„Right. Yes. Follow me." he brought her to Gaz' room. It had the more important server by far.

She started to hum while checking everything, Soap unable to not stare at her. She wore colorful chucks, which was weird for someone their age, jeans and a comfy t-Shirt. She was their age, or so he assumed. Her blonde hair was cut short and curly, reminding him of Princess Diana in a way. She was gorgeous, which made him want to hate her, but it was hard to.

„You need an UPS." she sat down into Gaz' chair. „I thought you'd have one already, that's why I looked into something else, but honestly that's the easiest."

„A... sorry?" Soap shrugged, making her chuckle. She had dimples and a wonderful voice.

„simply said, it's a system with a battery, that will keep your computer running for a couple of minutes more to save all your data." she shrugged.

That made sense. Soap nodded. „Uh. Sounds good? That's all?"

She chuckled again. „Yeah basically. I can get one from work and bring it, I'll install it for you guys. I can also bring multiple, I'm sure this isn't the only computer you have."

She was nice. Extremely nice. It was impossible to hate her.

„That would be Amazing." he nodded, watching her furrow her brows in light confusion.

„You okay?" she asked, voice amused.

„I'm sorry." soap quickly said. Yeah okay he was being weird. That woman was kind and helping him and all he did was stare and talk like an animatronic. „I'm just wondering why you're helping us, you don't even.. know who we are?"

He shrugged, like that would make the explanation any smarter.

She grinned now. „Well, I trust my people. If S-." she stopped for a second. „If Ghost trusts you, so do I."

She knew his real name. And soap tried to forget that immediately, but the accidental S immediately burned itself into his frontal lobe.

„Okay." he nodded. „And you're his...?"

It was disrespectful and he knew it. But he wouldn't be able to keep his brain quiet if he didn't ask.

„Oh I'm his affair." she deadpanned, which made Soap choke on his spit. He didn't have anymore time to react, with Ghosts voice interrupting.

„She's joking."
He leaned against the doorway, Gaz behind him with a grin on.

„She's my brothers wife." Ghost clarified, making the woman roll her eyes.

„He ruins all my fun. Yeah I'm his brothers wife. I'm Beth."

Beth. „So Tommy is...?" Soap looked at ghost uncertain, who nodded to confirm. „My brother. Yeah."

That explained the similarity. Was that how Ghost looked under the mask? It wouldn't be bad... a little anticlimactic maybe.

„Stop thinking about what I look like underneath it." Ghost pointed out, turning to Beth while Soap considered disappearing in shame. Was he that easy to read? Or was Ghost just that good.

Said man didn’t give Soap enough time to think about it, turning to his sister in law. „Let's go, food should be done."

Beth nodded, talking towards Gaz and Soap. „I'll return in a couple of days, latest Thursday, with the UPS and install it. Until then, save every few minutes to be safe."

Soap nodded in agreement, Gaz made a sound of understanding and she left the gaming chair to follow Ghost.
„Was nice to meet you two! Bye!" she called, before the door slammed and Soap took his first real breath since he'd seen Ghost.

„What a family." Gaz grinned.

Yeah, that.

Chapter Text

„And you're sure I can leave you alone?" Gaz closed his suitcase.

Beth had been here this morning to install the UPS, humming lightly but quiet, and was gone before tired soap morning brain could even recognize her as a person.

Now it was time to say goodbye, Gaz driving to his parents for the weekend, since he'd miss his moms birthday next week due to the convention.

„I have thumbs, Kyle. I can open everything I need. And I know how the washing machine works." soap scoffed and Gaz rolled his eyes.

„I meant with your undying crush on Val Valentino, but sure, keep ridiculing me for caring."

Soap snorted but nodded. „I mostly have stuff to do, I won't even have time to think about him."

„And his strong arms. His deep voice." Gaz teased and already moved to the door, his phone letting them know that his Uber was there.

Gaz pulled soap into a small hug. „Call if you need anything."

He meant it, Soap knew, so he smiled and nodded.

„And maybe text this time, so I don't think you've transmorphed into a breathing part of the gaming setup." Gaz added, before closing the door behind himself.

Soap sighed. Alright. First food. Then anything else.

He managed to feed himself fine, without Gaz keeping an eye on his intake of vitamins, eating while standing up, which Gaz hated. Freedom, he joked to himself, before going to the computer. This would be hell.

And it was hell. He didn't even notice how long he had worked for until the lights flickered and went off. „Fuck." he hissed, the computer letting him know that he had 3 minutes to save his data.

„God save Beth." he mumbled, saving everything he had worked on with a couple of clicks and turning the computer off rightfully.

It was nine. He wouldn't be able to sleep for another two hours. With a small check on his phone he realized too, that charging was a necessity and that he was a goddamn idiot.

Great. Nothing to distract himself with, alone with his thoughts, Gaz out of town.

He got up, walking around the apartment. He could train, but he had done that this morning and yesterday and his body wouldn't like it. Better not risk it, so shortly before con.

It was starting to dim outside, which meant he'd sit in absolute darkness soon. So he wouldn't even be able to read something. Clean? Gaz had done most of that yesterday, knowing that Soap would be busy with everything else.

He needed to get out. Maybe he could get some groceries or something else that helped. Maybe he could cook? No he needed electricity for that.

He grabbed headphones and slipped into his shoes, opening the door but being met with a wall of.. chest.

He looked up, to find Ghost, holding up a bag.

„Figured you'd need light."

„What?" he stepped two steps back in surprise, Ghost taking that as an invitation and stepping inside, walking over to the couch and couch-table and starting to work.

Soap needed a few seconds to register what was going on but managed to closed the door and toe his shoes off.

Ghost. In his apartment. No biggie. Completely fine and normal and dandy. Gaz gone too. What was the worst thing that could happen?

He turned to ghost and thought he was going to go crazy.
Ghost was lighting candles, fingerless gloves holding a matchstick, shaking them out when it came too close to his fingers.

Candles. Gaz and Soap didn't have candles, which meant that Ghost had brought them.

„I also brought a powerbank." Ghost motioned to the couch, where he had placed it carefully.

Soap nodded and wordlessly got himself a fitting cable, to charge his phone. He was speechless. Yeah speechless was accurate.

He sat down, staring at the hue of the candles. It was nine, all standing together and lighting up the room surprisingly bright.

„Beth pointed out you might not have battery lamps yet." Ghost shrugged. „Figured I'd bring you some light."

Soap tried not to be touched at how kind this was. They were just neighbor's. And yet, Ghost was here and had just lit brought candles with brought matchsticks.

„Thank you." soap finally managed to speak. „It's good, actually, I have nothing to do."

Was Ghost going to stay? He hoped so...

Ghost visibly raised his eyebrows lightly under the mask, before nodding. „I have nowhere to be." he confirmed, so it was settled.

They sat for a couple of seconds, looking around to find something to say.

„You know, most people put candles everywhere in a room to light it up." Ghost rubbed his own thigh with his thumb, clearly without thinking much about it. Soap thought much about it.

„but they make much more light when arranged like this." he looked at the little group of candles and Soap tried the same. He needed to get spayed. Definitely.

A few more seconds passed.

„You can ask, you know?" Ghosts voice was a tad deeper than before and Soap tried not to think about it.

„Hm what?" he acted like he had no idea what ghost meant, but he wasn't stupid.

„I'm honestly surprised you haven't asked yet. Didn't even ask Beth." Ghost shrugged. „Just asked if she's my wife, but not why I hide my face and prefer to wear gloves inside."

Soap raised his shoulder as if to hide his guilt. „I didn't want to be rude."

Ghost tilted his head, eyes scanning the man's face, upper body slightly leaned back and into the couch.

He looked gorgeous.

„It's not rude. Ask me."

If he was gonna say that again, Soap would ask him much other things. But alright, asking. Asking, asking.

He breathed, trying to rip his eyes away.

„Aren't you hot, like all the time?"

fuck.

Chapter Text

Ghost stared at him, blinked, before letting go of something that sounded like quiet laughter.

Soap was going to eat a pillow. He was gorgeous and he laughed perfectly too.

„You can ask me about the mask and you choose to ask me if I'm warm?" he grinned audibly. „The answer is no, I'm cold most of the time so it's good to be always covered. Shame for the tattoos though."

„You have tattoos?" soap knew his facial expression was probably uncontrollable and full of shock and maybe hidden awe and the biggest gay panic he had ever felt and from Ghosts amused tone, he sensed at least the first part of it.

„Yeah. So do you."

Soap looked down on himself, at the magpie he had gotten after losing his chance at the SAS.

„Yeah well. Needed to get something instead of my original plans." he smiled, genuinely not bitter about it.

Something he was still incredibly proud of. He had always been very goal-driven. And military had been his thing. Enlisted way too young and illegally, still making it through every test and every mission, up to getting to work with Price- and then losing it all in one crash.

He had never felt so empty like back then. But Gaz had pulled them both out, like it was nothing.

„It's nice. A magpie, right?" Ghost nodded and Soap felt adoration.
„Yeah.... Yeah, it is. What do you have?"

Ghost shook his head lightly. „I'll leave that to your imagination. But it's not nearly as pretty as yours."

Imagination. God. He had enough of that for sure. He choked on his own spit.

„You want wine?" he heard himself say, before stopping. „We don't even have wine. You want a beer?"

Ghost snorted. „Yeah, beer sounds good."

Soap nodded, getting up to get it and feeling ghosts eyes on him. This was crazy. And it absolutely shouldn't give him a kick.

But somehow it felt nice to know the man was watching him. Apart from it feeling safe, weirdly, it felt like he was prey. Which was a weird combination in itself, but with ghost in the room, it made Soaps head spin.

He returned with two beers, opening both of them, before leaning back a bit aswell.

„Admit it, you just wanna see how I do it." ghost smirked, taking the beer bottle.

„Uh.. sorry, you need a straw?" Soap blinked.

Ghost snorted again, but shook his head. „I think I can trust the man with the empty battery to not take a picture."

He rolled up his mask with one hand movement, clearly doing it for years, before setting the bottle to his lips and drinking.

Soap was staring. He knew he was.

There was blonde brownish stubble on the man's chin and face, the jawline sharp and strong. His Adam's apple was moving with drinking the beer and only now Soap was noticing the lips. Fuck. They were so pretty, it was weird.

Soaps eyes wandered up to the rest of the still covered face, only to notice that he was being watched. Fuck.

He quickly averted his eyes, drinking a sip of his own, while Ghost put his beer down and rolled his mask back to its original place. Soap tried not to feel disappointed.

„Enough peep show, don't you think." Ghost joked and Soap almost dropped his beer bottle. This man was driving him insane.

„Sorry it's just... curiosity I suppose." he winced at himself. This was terrible.

Ghost hummed and nodded. „It's alright."

„So why do you wear it?" it got out of soap before he could hold back any longer. Shit.

Ghost tilted his head lightly, the candle flickering making the shadows of his eyelashes dance.

„Mostly military. Wouldn't want to be recognized."

Soap knew immediately that this was something that should make him run. He had studied military men red flags in his questioning phase and this was not a good sign. Men who didn't want to be recognized were either way too deep in the game or had actually committed war crimes. And both of it wasn't exactly nice.

There was a third option, that Price had taught him. A soldier is only so good, like the weapon he can be. Faceless.

Soap was secretly hoping it was this kind. Maybe he could make price do a background check?

„Wasn't the right answer for you?" Ghost interrupted his train of thoughts.

„What? No, no it's fine." he shook his head.

„Were you thinking scars?" Ghost smirked audibly and Soaps rational thinking was gone again. For fucks sake this man was like a walking pheromone.

„M-maybe." he shrugged with a lighthearted chuckle, trying not to seem nervous.

You're an adult man, John, stop behaving like this.

„also true." Ghost shrugged. „just not the side and bit you just saw."

What the hell was going on? Was he a paid actor? He had to be a paid actor.

„did Gaz hire you or something?" he raised his brow, trying to ignore how stupid that sounded.

Ghost chuckled, rolling up his mask to take a sip, rolling it back down before speaking.

„Why?"

It dawned on Soap that he would need to explain this now. „No... reason. Maybe because of the videos we make about you."

Ghost turned now, his tone not as nice and amused anymore.
„You make videos about me?!"

Oh. Oh, fuck. Soap lost all smiles.

„Well, not really, not directly about you, more about our.. masked neighbor." shit that sounded not even a tad better.

Ghost turned to face him now, movement harsher. „And you think I'd be okay with that? After covering my face? Being recognized in the streets?"

Fuck.

„I didn't even... it's not like we ever filmed you or described-„

Ghost shook his head and got up, soap leaning forward to stop him but Ghost walking backwards, before choosing another way out of the apartment, leaving without another word.

The slam of the door rang in Soaps ears, the flickers of the candles suddenly hurting his eyes. What had he done.

Chapter Text

„And he stormed out?" Gaz' voice was somehow metallic through the phone, Soap finishing cleaning the last plate. He hadn't slept well last night, but bothering Gaz so late or so early hadn't felt right, so he had watched YouTube videos til he had fallen asleep.

„not stormed." Soap sighed, phone stuck between ear and shoulder like a single mother in 2004. „he got up and walked out. Wordlessly." Soap sighed. „And he's kinda right."

„Is he?" Gaz scoffed. „Dude's acting like we set up a secret camera in his bathroom. Yeah okay I shouldn't have mentioned the mask. But apart of that? He's overreacting."
Gaz voice wasn’t too enraged. More like very comforting, to soap‘s panic and anxiety.

Soap sighed again, drying his hands off to take the phone into his hand. „We don't know if he is. What if he's being searched?"

„We're not Taylor Swift. No one's going to try and find him over what two little streamers said in a stream. That's stupid as hell." Gaz sounded like there was no place to argue more with every second and Soap decided to give up. „I feel like I should apologize still."

„Then do so."

„How? I can't text him. And I'm sure he doesn't want to see me." Soap looked around the apartment to find more to clean.

„Do it like the old times, Soap." Gaz laughed. „Write the boy a letter."

Which was his best idea so far. But he didn’t even know where to start… He decided to procrastinate it and finish cleaning the apartment first.

And he was right about not knowing things, It taking him approximately 17 tries to get something that didn't sound weird and gaslighty or sad and desperate as hell.

Hello Ghost,
I wanted to apologize for the mess we've caused you. I've gotten rid of all video recordings of us mentioning you, so it's only there in the memories of our fans, which won't do any harm from my experience. Still, I'm really sorry. I hope you don't hate us now.
Have a nice day!
Soap

He sent Gaz a picture, who responded with a thumbs up, but didn't text any further.

He couldn't do this.

Maybe he'd try tomorrow morning before his morning run.
He hadn't interacted with Ghost for 12 hours now, he could add another 20.

And since the electricity worked again and Gaz returning tonight already, he decided to get back to his computer, to at least finish a part of his former to-do list.

Gaz returned in the evening, them doing a gaming stream to make up for the lost time, joking and playing around.

Somehow Soap managed to not seem too sad. They got a few comments that he was off, but he managed to ignore that and except for Gaz squeezing his thigh under the table from time to time in reassurance, it was a stream like always.

He'd be fine. Hell he didn't even know Ghost properly, no legal name, nothing. He would manage a bit of anxiety towards him.

The next morning he left the note by the door before his morning run, trying to get all thoughts out while running.

When he returned to the apartment, the note was gone.
Good. At least he tried to think so. At least he had apologized.

He went inside to start packing for con. If he kept himself busy enough, he wouldn't need to think about Ghost and this dilemma. And maybe Gaz was right and being gone would help. He'd just need to get distracted enough.

Chapter Text

The flight had been easy. The hardest was to remember the montage filming between gates. On the flight, they edited a little, all with each listening to their own music on their headphones.

It was always easy like that with Gaz. The man understood him without needing to speak and even managed to order him a drink without even having to ask.

„Man.." soap yawned while they were waiting for their luggage. „Shame we don't work together in all areas. I'd marry you."

Gaz snorted. „Yeah fuck no."

Fair enough. Gaz felt like a brother to him. But in another universe, who knew. If he'd ever marry someone for fun, it would be Gaz.

They made it to the hotel by Uber, Gaz nudging Soap.
„Price texted me."

Soap was ripped out of his thoughts, having watched the city out of the window. „huh, what? Is he okay?"

„Yeah, yeah, he's asking if he's allowed to come visit us next week."

The apartment was coming together well. It was alright. Price wouldn't skin them.

„Yeah sure, why not." Soap shrugged. „Aslong we have enough time to clean before." Gaz snorted and agreed.

Maybe he could do this. Just live life as intended and like he was going to live it online- as if Ghost had never happened. As if their furniture had built itself and their faucet repaired itself. Like he hadn't tried to bake cookies from scratch.

He'd come home and try a reset. Like he was moving in newly.
And he still had no idea why the neighbor from downstairs hated Ghost, so clearly he had dodged a bullet. What if the shoving would've been dangerous? He could have been physically...
His mind stopped him there. He didn't know the guy and he had rightfully gone too far. Apologizing it in his brain by thinking the man was abusive wasn't right.

He was pulled out of his moral code by the Uber coming to a halt and them getting out as quickly as possible.

The hotel was amazing and the bodyguards of the event were terribly nice. They weren't very overprotective either, cause no one expected anything to happen to them.

Their fanbase consisted of leftist middle aged military men and the queer teenage community. Not exactly dangerous. Especially because the second group would definitely be more of at this event.

Somehow they had gotten a suite with two rooms, which felt crazy. He had somehow even expected champagne, but they weren't famous enough for that.
Gaz took the right, so he moved to the left room behind a white, fancy door and tried to make himself at home.

Even if he actively tried not to think of Ghost, his mind stayed distracted. For fucks sake.

Gaz seemed to sense it, because the next 24 hours he filled Soaps head with so much distraction- even the convention went by like it was nothing.

They met with Alex for lunch, planning some videos together in between lots of stories and laughter.

It was day two like no time had passed at all and they were sitting at their meet and greet tables, saying hi to fans stepping forward.

A couple of fans had mentioned ghost so far and he had always managed to keep the mysterious smile and twinkle in his eyes, even if it burned like hell.

But what should he answer? That the mysterious and creepy neighbor was actually so interesting that Soap had developed a crush after not even a couple weeks in the new apartment and that unfortunately, mentioning him online had made said neighbor so mad he wasn't talking to him and probably would never again?

He waved the next fan goodbye, turning to the next one, to see Gaz stopping her. „Can I have a moment?"

She nodded and stepped back, eyes big in question. Probably the same face that Soap was making right now. What was going on.

„Sorry for the hold up." Gaz grinned, getting out his phone.
„but you have to see who texted our work Instagram."

Soap tilted his head, holding out his hand for Gaz, who was unlocking it and clicking on it. They usually didn't answer their DM's, but sometimes still read over it. Gaz handed it to him.

A burner account, clearly, no profile, the name only a G.
Soap shook his head, eyes moving down to read the message, having to read it twice before the words made sense in his head.

- I might have overreacted. I'm sorry.
-Ghost

Chapter Text

Ghosts first lesson in life had been that even your enemies can make you learn, no matter how much you hate it.

He had learned it with his father first, then with teachers that were terrible to him, with his first Lieutenant and then with Roba.

No matter how good that had ended, with him being able to save Tommy, and Price and him building up a network to destroy him, he had learned a lot.

He had learned that no matter how isolating this experience had been, he had to trust Price to change his life and to make sure, no one else would be hurt.

He had learned how to withstand enormous pain and how to continue even with nothing.

He had learned to be patient, to better wait to kill.

But his most important lesson had been, that privacy was everything. He had been too loose with it, back with Roba and it had almost cost his family.

So even though it had been his toughest lesson to learn, it was the most important one.

Or so he thought, staring into the sunken brown eyes in the mirror.

He was behaving ridiculously. Why was he even sad? He had talked to that Soap guy a couple times, there was no logical reason to miss him.

He wasn't even there. The lights were off and there had been no morning run. The shoes in front of the door had been taken too.

And yeah he hadn't been exactly against talking to him, knowing that he was quite flirty in talking, but all in good fun, right?

An irrational part of him was scared Soap had packed his things and gone but that was a bit drastic and also crazy considering that their falling out probably didn't matter that much.

Yet, it bothered him. So much that he was restless.

He had to do something, but Tommy was busy enough and would also not let him hear the end of it. Specifically because he had already seen Soap. And liked Soap. And made comments about the „pretty fella that has puppy eyes for you".

So he did what every man would do.

Call his boss.

(Or former boss.)

„Riley! Hell, thought you'd never call by yourself. What's going on, got all your legs?" John Price laughed into his phone.

„Captain." Ghost moved around his apartment to his couch. „do have the legs."

„So you're calling for something else? In need of advice?"

Ghost sighed. Technically yes but that would be hell to explain. But it was Price...
„I do need advice."

He managed to explain roughly, without mentioning Soap too much, what had happened, from the cup of sugar up until the moment where he had gotten the note, that was still hanging on his fridge.

There was silence when he was done.
„So..." ghost managed to take all his courage together. „was I Right?"

Price responded with a chuckle.

„Is this funny to you?" ghost wasn't offended, but very confused.

That only made Price laugh harder. „Sorry, son. You are telling me-„ he had to gasp for a breath. „The worst cookies you've ever eaten, you say?" the laughter started again, Ghost unable to not smile at that fact.

„They were really bad." Ghost hummed. „Why is that so funny?"

„I'm sorry, it's just.. it's you, Simon. You've beaten someone up before because they looked at you for too long. And this fool steals your sugar, makes you eat disgusting food, makes you do free labor, makes fun of you, talks to your family ... and the only issue is that he's mentioned you in his job? Anonymously?"

Ghost sighed. „It's my-„

„Privacy, yes. But you haven't really cared about that much since you've met him, haven't you? He might not know your name and your face, but you've let him in much more than anyone else so far. How was the poor fool supposed to know? To him you were being polite. Normal even. As if you hadn't been through hell." Price argued. „If you were a normal neighbor, you wouldn't mind. You'd probably ask if you're supposed to act a little and earn some money off it too."

„The mask could have told him." Ghost argued back, but there was no bite behind it.

„you could also just be an ugly bastard, Simon." Price shot back and Ghost sighed and leaned back.

„So I overreacted?"

„Ah, wouldn't say so. You've reacted accordingly to yourself. But the reason you're so unhappy with it is cause you don't want to be like usual with him." Price voice was dripping of amusement.

„that means?" ghost looked at his ceiling.

„That means you like him. Rare find. Do something out of it. Ask him out, you moron."

Ghost blinked. „He's not gay."

„he told you he's not?"

„No but-„

„Then stop wasting my time, Simon. Find out how to contact him and apologize. You've done all this with him, he must be real special."

That calmed him down somehow. Apologizing he could do.
„Real special." he agreed without listening to himself. „thank you, Sir."

„Shut the fuck up. I might be near next week, I'll call before I drop by, aye?"

„Aye." ghost agreed.

„Oh and Simon? Before you apologize, maybe try to find what he's said about you online?"

He blinked. „What for, Sir?"

„Just so you know how stupid yer looking."

Chapter Text

„Theres no way. There's actually no way."

Soap mumbled it again, the meet and greet having ended a few minutes ago. And he had truly no idea how he had survived it so far, because his mind was racing.

The stupid little crush on the interesting, mysterious man was skyrocketing, beating into every rational thought he had. The man had created a burner account to apologize to him.

"would you calm down?" Gaz laughed and handed him a water.
They were sitting in a small creator area, Alex joining them. „What he's having a crisis over?" he asked Gaz.

„The creepy neighbor dude from the streams? He and Soap have this weird thing going on where they stare at each other and are quiet for way too long." Gaz grinned. „Well they had a falling out and now the dude made an Instagram burner account to text Soap."

„Oh, damn." Alex sat down. „Sounds like he's real cute."

„What?" Soap was ripped out of his thoughts, looking at their friend.

„Well, if you two stare at each other all the time and you look like shellshock after he texted you." Alex grinned.

Soap scoffed but shook his head. „I don't even know what he looks like."

Alex tilted his head at Gaz who snorted. „Dude wears a balaclava."

Alex nodded slowly. „Wait what did you say his name was?"

„Ghost." Soap looked up, brows furrowing. „Why?"

Alex looked like he was thinking something, before shaking his head. „Nothing. Interesting name. Interesting."

Gaz and Soap shared a look but both shrugged. The hell that meant.

„have you answered him?" Gaz raised his brow, Soap shaking his head quickly.

He had no idea what to answer. He wasn't mad at Ghost, he understood his reaction and he still felt bad for what he had done.

So there was nothing to forgive, which was good. That didn't put him in a weird position. He just had... to answer something useful. Preferably something that... made Ghost talk to him again.

He wanted to know more. Not the face, he didn't care about the face.

But who has the guest been, with the strawberries? Where had he served? Had he made this account to text him or did he actually not have a phone?

„Dude You're overthinking this." Gaz pulled him out of it. „And we have to be on stage soon."

Soap nodded, opening the text.

- thank you for your message. I still feel bad about it, so if I can do anything to make you feel better, let me know.

That was good. That was okay. He sent it, closing his eyes. Gaz chuckled.
„Man, glad you're not this nervous with everything in life."

He earned himself a middle finger with that, laughing and urging soap to finish his coffee.

The answer of Ghost followed quickly.

- No I truly overreacted. I've talked to a friend and he let me know. I'm truly sorry, Soap.

Soap didn't know how to answer, so he typed the first thing in his mind.

- John actually.

Why had he texted that? Was he stupid? No one ever called him John, he felt awfully old with it.

- John is a bit too old for you, no?

Soap couldn't help his smile.

- Yeah maybe. Soap fits better, Gaz says.

Gaz was currently busy discussing a collaboration between Alex and a brand that had asked all three of them to join them next season.

- He's not wrong about you. Ever. You haven't been home the past days. Are you alright?

Soap realized that he hadn't told anyone they were leaving, no other neighbors too. Ghost must have been confused, no daily humming and all.

- Yes I am, I'm sorry. We're on this thing but telling you where exactly would truly embarrass me.

Soap smiled lightly.

- And there's no way I can get this information?

Soap heard the playful in Ghosts voice through the screen and was embarassed at how easy it made him blush. Fine. He'd play.

- Maybe in exchange for some information.

It didn't even take more than half a minute before he received an answer.

- give me the information I want and I'll grant you three questions.

Gaz read over the last text, leaning over soaps shoulder. „Damn, look at that rizz."

Soap snorted, but changed apps. „Shut up."

„Hey, good flirting game." Gaz shrugged. „What are you doing?"

„Sending him the link of the event..." Soap admitted shyly,sending him the link that would open the link to their stage performance.

„We gotta, come on."

Before they went up on stage, Soap checked his phone a last time.

- Atta boy.

Oh holy fuck. That was an introduction into a talk. Soap didn't have time to open, nor to answer, since they were just announced and called for on stage.

He put it away, running out on stage with Gaz, waving at the crowd, trying to actively ignore the strong feeling that he had every time one of the live-streaming cameras moved over to them.

Oh god what had he done.

Chapter Text

Panels were fun. As nervous as it made Soap and as sweaty he felt due to the lamps constantly shining down on them, it was fun, especially watching Gaz interact with the crowd so well.

„I have a question for both of you." a young girl stepped forward, soap and Gaz both nodding to let her speak.

„Would you rather..."

„Oh man this is gonna be good." Gaz interrupted her, winking at Soap, before giving her a hand sign to continue.

„Would you rather kiss each other or read the last text you got on your phone out loud?"

Soap immediately looked over to Gaz. He was bad at finding out wether these things were okay or not, missing out on the socially acceptable parts.

Gaz seemed relaxed, leaned back, one hand on his thigh. Good.

He turned back to the fan, the eyes on him making him forget completely what he had texted before or with who.

He laughed, pulling out his phone from his pocket.

„I gotta check first what I'm risking here." he winked at them, Gaz snorting and agreeing. „Yeah, gotta know how bad I'm fucking up if I read this, wait."

He lit his phone screen, making sure there was no camera angled towards it, eyes skimming over the last message that had been sent.

Apparently Ghost had used the link. Apparently Ghost was watching him. Apparently Ghost had written another message after his last one.

- You look good on stage.

He managed to not gasp, exhaling heavily before darkening his screen again, trying not to make eye contact with any of the livestream cameras. He knew he was blushing, simply from how hot his cheeks felt.

And then he remembered he was on stage, with hundreds of people watching him, so he raised his mic again, choosing to play it off with a light huff.
„Yeah no, I'm kissing Gaz." he sheepishly admitted, Gaz next to him holding his mic away to laugh loudly, the crowd cheering.

„Fucks sake." Gaz laughed into his mic. „fuck your secrets, man, you got a mint?"

Soap snorted. „I'm not happy either! What's your last message, maybe we can dodge it."

Gaz grinned and checked his phone. „Oh its from Alex!"

There was more cheering and shouting. Soap loved that their fans were overlapping so much.

„It's got the table we wanted" Gaz read it out loud. „I asked him to make sure we get a proper dinner tonight."

„Smart. See? Responsible about eating and we don't have to kiss." Soap grinned at his best friend, who theatrically wiped his face off.

Bullet dodged. Somehow at least.

He would have to answer Ghost later. He would have to think about it that he had been watched. No, that he was being watched. Fuck.

He almost jumped, straightening his back and trying to be back there. On stage.

Where he looked good. God, this was messing with his brain.

He looked over to Gaz, who was answering a question and looked over to Soap in between, smiling reassuringly. He got it, and it was okay if soap wasn't fully there. Gaz had his back.

„what do you say to that?" Gaz asked him, which ripped him out of his thoughts once more.

Okay so much for having his back.

But somehow the panel passed quickly still. They managed every question and the fans were seeming to love it, even if many of these people had no idea who they were til now.

Soap wasn't fully there, he noticed, sitting in the booth of the restaurant that Alex had arranged for them.

„Good morning." Alex smiled at him, Soap chuckling, realizing he had not listened to any conversation happening. „Sorry, I'm..."

„In love?" Alex chuckled.

Soap scoffed, shaking his head. „don't you have a wife to tell us about?"

Luckily, that always worked, Alex face lit up with excitement and new stories about Farah, and their married life.

Soap leaned back, glad he had managed to move the conversation into another direction that didn't put him on the spot.

God he couldn't wait to get home.

Chapter Text

Soap was staring at his phone. Three questions. That's what Ghost had offered. He'd have to use them well.

He was laying on the hotel bed, wondering how they managed to make the sheets smell so good, a weird kind of citrusy scent, even after him sleeping in here for multiple nights now.

Tomorrow they'd get home and he'd be able to see Ghost again. That alone made his heart beat a steady, fast beat, that felt like water rushing down a river whenever he closed his eyes.

Ghost.

He had to think about it. The first contact, the neighbor telling them about him... what had that been about?

He opened his eyes, taking his phone into his hands.

- Do I have to ask all three at once or can I already have one now?

It was maybe wasted. But he was curious, locking his phone screen before he could stop his fingers.

Ghost answered quickly, his phone lighting up after only a few questions, Soap having to take a better position in bed to read comfortably.

- I'm not gonna count this one then? I'm kidding. One question at a time sounds fine.

Okay fun. He'd have to come up with something. And starting at the beginning wasn't a too bad idea.

- This is going to be risky.

He felt obligated to warn Ghost.

- No risk no fun.

Okay. Okay. Ghost Said no risk no fun, then that's what he meant.

- When me and Gaz moved in, our neighbor from downstairs said you pushed him. What's the story behind that?

He sent it without thinking too hard. If this was a bad idea, it would show.

The three dots showed up on his screen. Ghost was writing.

They disappeared again just a second later. Okay. Weird.

Before he could think about it for too long, he heard Gaz knock on his room of the suite.

„Come in!" he put his phone aside. Gaz was more important. Gaz was always more important.

„Hey, man." Gaz grinned and came in, moving to the window to look out of it, like a cat you held in an apartment, tapping against the glass.

„You came here to look at the city?" Soap grinned, knowing damn well that Gaz wasn't here to just look out of the window.

Gaz grinned at that, before taking his eyes off the buildings outside.

„I wanted to check on you. See if you're okay. T'was a lot and I know you take things in a rush but I just wanted..." Gaz shrugged. „You okay man?" he added and came over to the bed, dropping himself down next to Soap.

Soap smiled, the air around them mixing with Gaz' deodorant, the smell somehow relaxing him.

„I am okay." Soap nodded. „It's.. sorry for being so down. I know it doesn't matter that much but-„

„I wasn't saying that." Gaz interrupted him. „If Ghost is important to you, or this topic is, that's fine. I just don't want you to have crazy anxiety because you think you have to. Feel bad. Or feel guilty."

Soap smiled. „You know me too well, Hm?"

Gaz chuckled. „Someone has to. What's up with Ghost? You guys talking?"

Soap nodded. „yeah. I actually just asked him about the thing our neighbor told us."

Gaz leaned up on his arm, eyes wide. „Woah. Brave. And? Is he actually a red flag or do we hate our neighbor now?"

„I actually don't know, you came in before he answered." Soap shrugged and stretched to grab his phone, squinting to read the message.

- you got time to call?

„Oh!" he exclaimed, Gaz leaning in to read, before chuckling and getting up. „I'll leave you two alone then. Lock the doors in case he tells you how to touch yourself."

„Fuck off." Soap snorted, pushing that thought away as quickly as possible. Not the time to feel the rush of that mental image.

- Yes. Call me.
He managed to type quickly and sat up. Jesus Christ. This was really happening.

His phone lit up with the call quickly and he took a few seconds to answer, body moving slower than his brain, that was screaming loudly at him to take the phone as quickly as possible.

„So you wanna know what really happened?" Ghost's voice sounded even deeper through the phone, Soap unable to define his tone.

„Yeah." Soap shrugged. Couldn't be that bad right?

Chapter Text

„What did he tell you?" Ghosts voice was way too relaxed to confess a crime.

„He said you're aggressive I think." Soap tried to recall, closing his eyes. „mainly that you shoved him."

Ghost chuckled on his end. Okay, yeah, whatever he'd tell him, Soap would probably be on his side.

„I did shove him. I came from work and was very tired to be fair, but that's not the reason I did it."

Soap changed his position, stretching out his legs comfortably, staring at the ceiling.

„He came towards me with his dog, and I usually wait til they've passed, to not scare the dog or take up too much space."

That was kinda sweet.

„Well that day I saw him too late, I was tired. And he came out the door with his dog, who obviously got a scare and barked at me. It's fine, I don't mind. It's the mask."

Ghosts voice was so calm and leveled, it made Soap feel a weird sense of peace.

„And that fucker turns around to his dog, and hits him on the nose. Hard. Not a tap, not a corrective pull of an ear. He full on..." Ghost shut up and Soap felt the anger rise in him aswell, Ghost also taking a couple seconds to calm down, from how he breathed.

„so when the bastard turned back around to me, looking so righteous and happy with himself I...I shoved him aside and went up the stairs. Didn't use my full force, nor did he fall. I just... i felt like I had to give it back to him."

Soap heard himself speak before noticing. „That's reasonable."

And it was. And it calmed him immediately. Ghost wasn't someone who was secretly aggressive- he had been tired and morally challenged in a moment, and had chosen maybe a bad but a human outlet.

„I wouldn't do it again." Ghosts voice was quick. „I regret it a lot, but I'd rather lose my tongue than apologize."

Soap huffed a laugh. „Yeah I see. I'm with you. You did ... maybe not right, but I would have done the same probably."

Ghost hummed on the other end, taking a few seconds of silence. „I think it's alright. I tend to be overcareful after military, to not bring those behaviors home. But in this situation, I think it was okay."

„That's so..." Soap couldn't stop himself. „Interesting." shit maybe that wasn't nice to say.

Ghost chuckled on the other end. „Interesting? Mentally Ill, don't you think?"

Soap snorted now. „Ah shut up. No, it's not mentally ill. I've met hundreds of soldiers, especially now through the YouTube and streaming career. We've interviewed a couple aswell, since we still have ties to our past... but no one has ever.." he was missing words to explain, groaning lightly.

„been that strict?" Ghost tried to fill the words in that Soaps brain wouldn't manage.

„No. No one else takes it that serious, in a good way. You seem like you can actually accept it as part of yourself and your personality, without letting it take you." Soap rolled onto his side, phone squished between his face and his arm.

„I'm glad you think so." Ghost sounded honest. „I personally think it's necessary. To survive the life in the normal world. The one where getting groceries doesn't involve in killing or being killed."

The last part sounded particularly bitter.

„doesn't sound like typical work." Soap pointed out and Ghost chuckled on his end.

„If I'd tell you, I'd have to kill you."

And while Soap knew he was joking, he also knew that this was the serious part, he had meant earlier. Ghost had done things that were impossible to talk about. A future for Soap, that he had never gotten and had grieved for years- was this strangers past. And probably not easy to carry either.

It felt coincidental , all of the sudden. Meeting Ghost, the man who had been in a similar field, but already done with it, while being the one who never got there.

One helicopter crash. A simple mission, preparing him and Gaz for working with Price.

It had robbed him of a planned life and had given him a whole hallway of doors to go through. And while he was endlessly grateful that Gaz had chosen things the way he had, he would never be able to forget the original plans.

And maybe also the fact that in his head, he hadn't planned to be here, at all.
In a Hotel, alive and well, instead of a-

„You okay?" Ghost ripped him out of his thoughts.

„What? Yeah." Soap shook himself. That was a tad too far.
„I'll have to call my therapist once I'm home again." Soap laughed lightly, Ghost chuckling.

„Yeah sometimes it takes us back, hm? It gets easier."

Chapter Text

The flight home was less anxious.

Alex and Farah had brought them to the airport, Soap glad they got to see them once more before flying home.

Alex was a good friend, introduced to them by Price when they had both landed in the hospital.

Alex, who had held up his leg and said „what do you guys know about youtube?"

It had been the first moment where Soap had smiled and felt at ease, that maybe his life wasn't over entirely and he shouldn't take the next bus to hug.

And Farah was just wonderful, handing them pre-packed snacks and shushing them about it with just the right amount of care, without ever seeming overbearing.

He had ended last nights call with Ghost on good terms and quick, since Ghosts doorbell had rang. Maybe Tommy?

Soap had decided not to think about it, busying the next morning and the entire flight with going through all of their material from the past few days and trying to steal something of every snack Gaz had brought.

When they landed, Soap was certain that he had enough to fill an entire month of posting.

Somehow he hoped to find Ghost in their apartment when he unlocked the door, knowing it was ridiculous.

The candles that the masked man had brought with him were still there though, Gaz had carefully moved them to the sideboard, where they stood together and looking like they were judging him.

Like a tiny group of old women at the grocery store when you buy condoms.

Gaz noticed Soap's lack of movement and laughed. „My god, just go over. Say hi, you're back now and you two can go back to this little awkward dance where you say nothing yet too much."

Soap scoffed. „First of all, fuck you Kyle." he dropped himself onto the couch, watching the other sort the suitcases to their rooms before continuing.
„Second of all I don't know if he even-„

„if you say wants to see me, John, for the love of god!" Gaz shouted from his room, making Soap laugh, returning with his shirt off, clearly saying what he wanted to say being more important than changing.

„that man made a burner account to talk to you. That man looks at me like i'm a walking encyclopaedia that can give him information about you!"

that was new. „He does what?" Soap tilted his head lightly, Gaz waving him off.

„nothing, bro, it doesn't matter. But he wants to see you. And you'll go see him and say hi."

his phone made a sound while he talked, Gaz taking it out of his pocket without thinking and checking it after finishing his sentence, only to do a little double take.

„... well you're going to say hi right after helping me deep-clean this place, because I completely forgot Price is coming over tomorrow."

„Fuck."

It took another three hours for Soap to finally show up at Ghosts doorstep, all of the sudden noticing that he was empty-handed.

And in his dirty clothes too.

He didn't get much more time to think about that, because the door swung open to... no one?

No that was wrong, Soap's eyes traveling down to... a kid.

A blonde kid, looking awfully much like Tommy, grinned up to him with a few teeth missing.

„Are you Soap?" the question came before Soap was able to say something.

„Wh- yes. Yes fella, i'm Soap. And you are?"

„JO!" The shout came from inside, a rumbling and then, Ghost, a black balaclava on, grabbing the kid up from where it was. „The hell are you-Soap."

He stopped in his tracks with the kid on his arm, Soap unable to scan him immediately. Comfortable pants, socks, a t-shirt. and that meant arms. Arms he had never seen before.

Strong arms. With scars and tattoos.

God he felt like a creep, finding Ghosts eyes again who also apparently, had not moved yet.

„Thats Soap, Uncle Simon!" the kid, Jo, grinned and Ghost huffed, shoulders relaxing. „You're right, Jo, that is Soap. Hi."

„Hi." Soap only realized now that his heart was beating. He had missed him. And he was probably grinning like an idiot.

„I just wanted to say i'm back. Gaz and me." he smiled and Ghost nodded. „glad you're letting me know. Listen i got my hands a little bit full-„

he pushed Jo up in his arms, who giggled knowing he was meant. Soap felt an emotion he probably had never felt before.

„at the moment, but how about i text you?"

„With the phone you don't have?" Soap grinned , unable to hold himself back. He hadn't forgotten Ghosts first no towards his question for his number.

Ghost flinched lightly, but tilted his head like he was considering what to say, his eyes glowing of amusement, voice dripping of that game they were playing when he finally answered.

„Yeah. With exactly that phone."

Chapter Text

„And you guys didn't kiss?" Gaz grinned and earned himself a light shove with the pillow that Soap was holding.

„Shut up. No we didn't kiss, i came back here and he texted me in the evening." he put down the pillow properly on the couch, looking around the flat. It looked fine, and it probably didn't have to be so clean.

Price wasn't their dad. Yes he was an authority, but he wasn't even that much older, so he'd probably not stand in their living room to count the dust particles on the shelves.

But somehow to them it felt necessary, to make it all look like they had their life together. To make him feel like they were fine even without him and the special forces.

„And what did you text about?" Gaz was curious.

„He asked me if i already know my second question and I told him I don't know yet." Soap shrugged, checking the time. Price would be here any second.

„And that's it?" Gaz frowned, the ring of the doorbell both making them jump.
„Thats it!" Soap took a light jog to the door, pressing the buzzer and opening it, listening to the hallway floor creak under Price getting up the stairs.

It was weird not seeing him in military gear or at least some kind of camouflage, but he looked good, a white wool pullover on, with some clean grey jeans and dressing shoes. Gaz made a small sound next to him and Soap wanted to agree. He was the epitome of authority, even here.

„I'm too old for this shit, couldn't you move somewhere without stairs?" He grinned at them, Gaz scoffing.

„Might wanna cut the cigars a bit, those were two sets of stairs."

Price snorted, pulling Gaz into a hug first. „Thats why you're lucky not to work under me. Watch your mouth."

Gaz laughed, stepping aside for Soap to be hugged.

Price smiled at Soap and pulled him down, Soap closing his eyes on instinct. It was relieving, somehow, to see him alive and well.

„Hello Soap." Price chuckled into the hug and Soap breathed. „Hello Sir."

„Ah don't Sir me, boy. Captain works fine." Price winked, waving them aside. „Will you show me the place or do you plan on talking out here in the open?"

They both immediately moved to let him in, bumping into each other before figuring it out. Oh boy this would be fun.

Price stayed a couple of hours, bringing some fun and light stories from his desk-job that he now had.

Time passed quickly and at one point, Price did manage to get up, hugging the boys in the doorway. „It was fun, i must say. We should-„

He was interrupted by a door opening and keys dropping, Soap looking up to find Ghost stare at them, no at Price, before speaking.
„Captain?!"

What? Soap didn't even catch Gaz' reaction, just concentrated on Ghosts shoulders tense.

Price smiled and raised his brows in surprise, winking at the two, before turning to the man behind him. „If it isn't my favorite. Hello Ghost."

Soap wasn't sure he was understanding right, while Ghost looked between Soap, Gaz and Price now.

„Did you knock? I was home. Is everyone alright?" he sounded stressed now. Soap had never heard Ghost so stressed.

Price chuckled, walking over to lift up the keys that Ghost had dropped. „None of it, son."

Son? So they knew each other well. Very well.

„I was visiting the boys." Price explained and Ghosts eyes snapped back up to Soap, to only Soap now.

The hell was he thinking?

„So.. not to.. not because of?"

Price laughed now, shaking his head to Ghosts unasked question. „No, boy, no."

He turned to Gaz and Soap now, smirking lightly and clasping his hand on Ghosts shoulder. „May i introduce? Lieutenant Riley, my Lieutenant and former member of the 141- the team that-„

„The team that we would have joined." Gaz interrupted with his eyes widened and only now Soap started to get it, Ghost apparently getting it at the same time.

It wasn't just coincidence that they were all retired military- they were also all retired from the same team, with the difference that Soap and Gaz hadn't even had the chance to join.

Something clenched in Soaps chest looking at Ghost now. The darkness that surrounded the other just felt so much more safe. So much more home.

„Wow that's crazy." Gaz spoke out what they all thought, Price chuckling. „We should discuss it out and bond over it over dinner. Riley?"

He turned to Ghost with the question, but it didn't sound like a question at all. Ghost hummed after a second of considering. „Yes Sir."

Soap blinked. The man that he had looked up to so much for the past few years was not just familiar to Ghost, but in similar position too.

„Then it's settled. Friday works? I'll send you the address." Price grinned, turning to leave. „Come on, Riley, walk with me."

Ghost, who had been wanting to leave anyways, nodded and lifted his hand at Gaz and Soap once more before following his Captain, leaving the two there.

„What the fuck just happened?" Gaz spoke first, staying in the open door with Soap for a tad longer.

„Yeah, wondering that too."

Chapter Text

„Wait, so you're not coming with me?" Soap looked at Gaz who was already getting ready for the dinner with Price and Ghost, just way too early.

„I am, aren't you listening?" Gaz smiled. „Price just told me he needs my help with something media-related and will pick me up already. We'll still be there later."

The man fixed his collar, Soap watching him from the couch.
„Dressing shirt?" Soap couldn't help but grin, making Gaz roll his eyes.

„yeah, yeah, i have authority issues, i know."

Soap chuckled to himself. „i'm just toying with you, bro. i'm frightened and we both know so."

„ah it can't be that bad. I mean, we're all military, Ghost is nice and it's maybe good to find out more about our mysterious neighbor with Price." Gaz grinned and Soap snorted.

He couldn't believe what he had thought of Ghost at the beginning. He had been so weirded out, so worried.. and it had been a damn good business idea.

But he was glad it had mostly died down. Their latest panel had shifted the fans attention back to shipping them, or wondering about how close they were to Alex.

It was good. Like this, he would be actually able to maybe get to know Ghost. Without the guilt of exploiting him.

Gaz left a few minutes later, leaving Soap alone, who had to cramp in a promised stream, his mind not really there.

„Sorry guys.." he sheepishly grinned. „I have an important thing tonight so, i can't really concentrate."

The chat exploded with questions and theories, including obviously the idea that Gaz and Soap were going on a date together.

„It involves Gaz and it involves eating, but nah, we're not going out just us. But i won't say too much, chat. I've learned when to keep my mouth shut."

In that moment his phone lit up. A text from Ghost.

-Better that way.-

Soap snorted, putting his phone away.

„Yeah." he grinned into his camera. „I think it is better that way."

He arrived early at the restaurant, knowing that Gaz would give him at least three comments about also having chosen a dressing shirt.

Gaz had been right, it did feel the most correct.

He was certain he'd be the first one there, but the waitress brought him to a table that wasn't empty.

Obviously, in military fashion, Ghost sat in the corner, no one's in his back. He had a wide pair of sunglasses on and a normal mask that covered his mouth and nose.

Which meant Soap got to see his hair.

Short, light blonde hair, sides buzzed and the upper part just long enough to stick up in all kinds of directions.

Soap managed to not slow while walking, trying to act nonchalant about it.

„Ghost." he spoke as a greeting, taking the chair next to him, Ghost taking his sunglasses off, which just gave him even more to look at.

A nose, his eyes without any fabric shadowing over them, his surprisingly dark eyebrows.

God he was gorgeous.

„Soap." Ghost answered now, his eyes crinkling lightly. He was smiling.

Soaps heart was beating like it was trying to kickstart his body.

„i like the table you picked." Soap nodded, having to forcefully tear his eyes away from his face to look around. The place wasn't too full back here, most tables around them empty.

„Yes i like it private." Ghosts voice was amused.

„Really? I haven't noticed." Soap answered in similar manner, unable to hide his grin.

Ghost made him giddy, like a kid so excited for their parents to realize the genius prank he had pulled on them. Like realizing there were gifts for him under the tree.

„how is... uh.. Jo?" Soap asked, planning to make fantastic small talk with Ghost. He was gonna manage.

Ghost smiled under his masks, brown eyes looking at Soap intently. It was like he was reading his mind, but surprisingly, Soap didn't feel uncomfortable.

„he's great. He-„
Ghost was interrupted by his phone buzzing, giving Soap an apologetic look before grabbing it. Concerning how careful Ghost was with his phone number, Soap figured it would be important.

„Yes Sir." Ghost answered the voice on the other end, looking at Soap, basically scanning him down. What was going on? „Affirmative?"

What was he affirming? That Soap was here?

„...Yes sir." Ghost looked down now, looking a little like a child being scolded. „No Sir, i wouldn't want that. Until next week."

He didn't hang up though, just wordlessly handing Soap the phone, not making eye contact.

Soap needed two seconds to function, carefully taking the phone out of Ghosts gloved hand, pressing it to his ear.

„Yes?"

„Soap MacTavish, man of the hour!" Price laughed into his ear.
Was he alright? Why was he calling him?

„Sir, I don't understand-„

„Course you don't. What would you say, doesn't Ghost look fantastic tonight?" Price's voice was amused, but not mocking.

Soap blushed, shortly looking up to Ghost who looked at him intently. Shit. Overwhelmed with the eye contact he quickly looked back down, trying to concentrate on Price on the other end. He had a question to answer.

„Affirmative, Sir."

„Perfect, then my work is done." Price audibly smirked. „Table is on tab, you eat and drink whatever you like."

„What, why?" Soap didn't catch on, hearing Gaz laughter in the back of Price's end. What was going on?

„My god, yer usually smarter than you look!" Price mumbled. „It's a date, son. You and Ghost need to get it together, because it's becoming quite painful to watch."

Soap felt like his brain had a loading error. He had never expected to hear words like this out of his former Captains mouth. And not just that. A date. A date with Ghost. Creepy mysterious neighbor turned into hot ex military loving uncle neighbor. Did Ghost even want that?

Soap looked up again, finding Ghost still staring at him, head tilted lightly, eyes narrowed as if to study him.

„I don't think he-„

„Ah, you think i'm terrible? He's head over heels for you, son!" Price laughed.

„Really?" Soap asked, a little louder than he meant to, the question sounding like being asked for Ghost, who nodded slowly, catching up to what Soap meant.

Holy shit.

„I see." Soap mumbled. „Captain, i... thank you." he breathed, Price chuckling.

„Have fun you two."

He hung up, Soap slowly handing Ghosts phone over. He didn't even know what to say. Where to start. What to do.

„Simon." Ghosts voice interrupted every thought process he had.

„I'm sorry?" Soap looked up in surprise.

„My name. It's Simon. Figured you'd want to know now." Ghost tilted his head slightly, eyes smiling.

This was true. This was serious. Ghost was seriously interested. Soap licked his lips nervously, unable to hide his grin now.

„Okay.. okay..." he nodded slowly, getting accustomed to the situation. „You wanted to tell me about Jo?"

Ghosts eyes smiled so brightly, pulling his chair a little closer, leaning back comfortably.

„I'd love to."