Honey!

He was sitting near the back of the plane, and because he was so tall, he could see well over the seat. He could barely see the top of Honey’s head, watching as she talked with one of the stewerdesses. God, he hated this. Why was he so stupid? 

It was a quick flight back to the UK, and they landed in Birmingham, then, soon after, got back into Simon’s car.

“I’m sorry, Simon.” She whispered softly, glancing over at him. “Don’t call me that.” He muttered, his voice a low rumble in his chest as he started the car. Honey nodded, letting out a soft sigh as she looked down at her hands. 

“I have a few weeks left, and then we never have to speak again.” She whispered. 

“Good.” He replied, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Honestly, he couldn’t wait for that time to pass. The sooner she was gone, the less that he had to worry about. 

When they got back to base, Honey immediately went to Price’s room, as he had called her in. She sat across from him in the dimly lit room, smoke swirling around him as he bared a cigar between his teeth. 

“How was your vacation, kid?” He asked softly, leaning back in his chair.

Honey shrugged, letting out a sigh. “He still hates me, I guess.” She said with a self-depricating giggle. She hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, but that’s the way it fell. She meant to lighten up the atmosphere. Price nodded, taking the cigar out from between his teeth. 

“I got a call from your colonel,” he started, watching her eyes. “They want you back early. You’ll be gone by the end of the month, okay?” He said softly. They only had two weeks left in the month, so the time was nearing. Honey nodded, looking up at him. 

“Now, would you like to go back to Germany for Christmas, or would you like to stay here?” He asked softly. If she chose to stay, she would be here the full two weeks, but because Christmas was next week, that meant that she would just be taken out after Christmas and stay in Germany. 

“I’ll stay. I don’t have much family back home.” She whispered with a nod. He nodded back, taking note. 

“Alright, kid, that’s all I got for you.” He smiled, letting her go. She stood up before leaving and going back to her and Ghost’s room. When she got to the door, it was locked, so she knocked. “Lt. You’re not supposed to have the door locked.” She said softly. She could hear his thunderous footsteps stomp to the door before it flew open. 

“It wasn’t locked.” He grumbled. He muttered a quick ‘idiot’ under his breath, making Honey flinch slightly. She nodded, coming in. “I have two weeks left.” She said softly. “Then I’m leaving.” She added. Ghost grumbled something under his breath, going back to his side of the room. 

Those next two weeks flew by. And before she knew it, she was standing in her and Ghost’s room, getting ready to leave. She folded her clothes, putting them into her bag, letting out a sigh. She could feel his eyes burning holes into her back. “What’s your problem with me?” She asked, turning around. “I’m aware that we slept together, but god, can you let anything go?” She whispered, her German accent getting a bit thicker as she got angry. 

“I haven’t done anything to you. Why are you acting like this?” She questioned, trying to poke and prod at his mind. 

“Because.” He replied, his arms crossed over his chest. Honey stood there, waiting for him to follow up, but he didn’t. He just stayed silent. 

“That’s your only excuse? Because?” She huffed, turning back around and shaking her head. 

He let out a grunt in response, and she sighed. Once she finished getting her things packed, she slung the bag over her shoulder. 

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” She said softly, reaching out to shake his hand. He carelessly shook her hand, and she left the room. One by one, she said her goodbyes to each teammate. First was Price, then Soap, then Gaz, Laswell, and General Shepherd. 

They had each given her a small parting gift—everyone except for Ghost. Price had given her a few snacks, Gaz had given her some tea that she mentioned liking, Laswell gave her a bunch of pictures of Honey and the team, and Shepherd had given her a tumbler. Simon sat in his room, looking down at the necklace in his hand. He ran his hand over the ‘H’ charm that hung off of it. It definitely wasn’t a cheap necklace. It was a nice one. It had her first initial and then a plate with her birth flower stamped onto it—an iris. “Honey’s leaving; come say goodbye.” Laswell said with a knock on the door. He looked up at her, rising to his feet, still holding the necklace. 

He shuffled out of the room, going to find Honey. She was hugging Soap goodbye, tears filling her eyes. 

“Ye can always visit us, lassie.” Soap grinned, poking her side, making her giggle. She pulled back, wiping her tears away before nodding. Simon stood back, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back against the wall. Once she was done, he shoved the necklace into her hand without a word, but his eyes said everything that words couldn’t. 

The way he looked at her was so sweet. He was already longing for her, he felt like part of his soul was leaving, but if this was how it was going to be, then he’d have to be okay with it. 

She stood back with a nod, wiping her tears away again. “Thank you.” She said softly. He nodded, staying silent. 

And just like that, she was gone. 

Once she got into the cab that would take her to the airport, she looked down at her hand, seeing the necklace, and a small piece of paper with something scribbled onto it. 

His number. His personal number. Not his work phone.

His hands itched with the need to wrap his arm around her shoulder or hold her hand, but he held himself back. She had boundaries; he would respect them. They walked in silence, taking in the sights, sounds, and scents of Hamburg. He glanced down at her, making sure that she was okay before scanning the area. When he looked back down at her, she was gone. He immediately stopped in his tracks. “Honey?” He said, glancing around, looking for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. “Honey?” He repeated a little louder, his breath catching in his throat as he looked around for her. His palms started to itch and sweat, his eyes racing as he searched the crowd for her. She shouldn’t be so hard to find, but she was so damn short that she was impossible to see over everyone else.

“Fuckin’ hell.” He murmured as he finally spotted her. She was talking with a few other people, so he came up behind her. “Honey.” He said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Wer ist das? (Who is that?)" One of the women she was talking to asked. "Das ist Simon. Er ist mein Leutnant. (That’s Simon. He’s my Lieutenant)" Honey said softly, looking back at him. “Scared me to death, Hon. Need to tell me next time, preferably before you leave.” Simon grumbled, squeezing her shoulder before letting his hand drop to his side. “Hello.” One of the younger girls said softly, she was around 9 years old. Simon gave her a small smile and a nod, his eyes crinkling in the corners. 

“You speak English?” Simon said softly. “A lot of younger kids do. They teach it here.” Honey smiled, looking up at him. 

“Learn somethin’ new every day, eh?” Simon said under his breath. "Na gut, wir gehen jetzt besser. Es war schön, euch drei zu sehen. (Alright, we better get going. It was nice seeing you three.)" Honey smiled, giving them a wave before leaving with Simon. They finished up their Christmas shopping, and by the end of the night, they were both hammered. They were in the back of a taxi. Simon was starting to get touchy, and Honey wasn’t fighting it. She glanced down at the hand that rested on her thigh, a lopsided smile finding her face. Once they got back to Honey’s home, Simon picked her up from under her armpits, pinning her to the wall. Their lips smashed together, her hands threaded into his hair. He had dropped his mask somewhere on the porch or in the hallway—either way, he didn’t care. His hands moved from her armpits to her ass, cupping it as their tongues danced. “Mmm.” She hummed against his lips, making him let out a deep growl in response. Taking her off of the wall, he brought her into her bedroom, laying her on her bed. Her legs wrapped around his waist, making him chuckle against her lips. “Needy little bunny, hm?” He murmured, stepping back to take his jacket off. He gently took Honey’s Doc Martins off, kneeling down to take her socks off as well. He pressed a soft kiss to the arch of her foot, making her squirm. “Tickles.” She giggled, making him gain a lopsided grin. She looked down at him, admiring his face. This was really only one of the few times that she had seen his full face. But right now, he was more handsome than ever. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol, or the fact that he was worshiping her, but it was something. His hands slowly slid up her body, till they reached the waistband of her leggings. He slowly slid them down, taking her thong with him. 

“Such a pretty bunny.” He mumbled against her ankle as he began kissing his way up. Honey’s back arched in anticipation, her thighs quivering as he got closer to her sweet cunt. But, just before he got there, he skipped over it, making her let out a disappointed groan. He kissed her hips, his hand moving to take her jacket off. She let it slip from under her, and his hands went under her turtleneck to unclasp her bra. 

"Fick mich doch. (Fuck me already.)" She whined, making him chuckle. He shook his head, taking her turtleneck and her bra off. “Patience.” He murmured, licking a stripe from her navel up to between her breasts. He blew cold air on the line, making her shiver. He grabbed a handful of one of her tits, looking up at her. “Evil.” She murmured, her eyes closing.

He smiled, his tongue flicking against her nipple. Goosebumps raised on her skin, her hands finding his hair. His mouth locked around her nipple, sucking and nipping at it. “Simon.” She moaned softly, making him grin. His cock ached at the sound of her moaning his name. This was the moment he had been dreaming about. 

“Yes, sweet girl?” 

“Fuck me, please. I can’t take it. Do something.” She begged, her body writhing as she ached with need. He decided that since they were drunk and twice as sensitive, she couldn’t handle being teased. So, he finally gave in, dipping his head between her legs. 

He licked a stripe up her slit, letting out a groan at her taste. 

“Fuckin’ hell, bunny. Taste so good.” He murmured, going in for more. Honey moaned, her brow furrowing as her hips rolled against his tongue. He sucked her clit into his mouth, closing his eyes as he savored her taste. 

“Can’t wait to have this pretty pussy wrapped around me.” He murmured to himself, a shiver of pleasure running down his spine as he thought about it. 

“Please, Simon.” She begged. 

“Nuh-uh. I’d be a bloody fool to not make you cum on my tongue first.” He growled, gripping her thighs. He pulled her closer, pressing her knees to her chest. "Ja! Oh mein Gott. (Yes! Oh my god.)" Honey whimpered, her back arching. His sharp, brown eyes looked up at her, his pupils blown wide. His hands gripped at her thighs, just behind her knees. His tongue swirled around her clit, and he shook his head a few times, making her gasp. “Yeah? You like that, huh, bunny?” He grinned, doing it again. She let out a sob, her eyes rolling back for a moment. “Simon. Oh god. Going to make me cum.” She gasped, her German accent growing thicker. He chuckled, pressing a kiss to her thigh. 

“Oh yeah? Gonna cum for me, huh?” He smiled, licking a long stripe from her entrance to her clit before shaking his head again. 

Honey’s toes curled, her eyes rolled back, and she let out the cutest little whimper in the world. He continued shaking his head, his hands gripping her thighs tightly. Once her body relaxed, he slowly pulled away, moving up her body with a big grin. They were both still so incredibly drunk. 

Honey panted hard, her arms wrapping around his neck, trying to catch her breath. “Deep breath, Hon.” He whispered, gently rubbing her shoulders. She took a few deep breaths, and they eventually steadied. “Are you ready?” He murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. She nodded, looking up at him. “Words, bunny.” He added, running a hand through her hair. “Ready.” She said softly. He kissed her on the cheek one more time, before putting a little bit of lube on the tip of his cock. He spread it out evenly before slowly sliding in. Honey’s eyes went wide, her jaw dropping, and he stopped. 

“Are you okay?” He whispered. 

“F-Fuck.” She whimpered, her nails digging into his shoulders. He stayed there, not moving, letting her adjust. It was uncomfortable; he was pretty big and girthy as well. She wasn’t expecting him to be that thick. He pressed gentle kisses to her collarbone while he waited, trying to get her to relax. “Good girl, Honey.” He mumbled against her skin, moving to press his forehead against his. He watched her eyes as he slowly pressed in more, his hands resting under her shoulders, holding onto her. "Dein Schwanz ist so groß. Oh mein Gott. ("Your cock is so big. Oh my God.)" Honey whined, looking up at him. “I know, baby. I’ll be gentle.” He whispered, gently rubbing her shoulders. One of his hands moved down to sit behind her knee, on her thigh, pressing it up to her chest again. He started moving slowly, making her soft moans fill the otherwise silent air. “Take it, bunny. Let me in.” He muttered, starting to gain speed. Honey’s eyes were wide as she held onto him, letting out desperate whimpers and moans. He sat back on his knees, moving her other leg to the same position, allowing him deeper. “O-Oh fuck.” She gasped, looking up at him. He let out a soft moan, his jaw falling slack. “Such a good bunny. Holy fuck.” He groaned, letting his head fall back. “So tight f’me, so wet. Oh god.” He growled, closing his eyes for a moment. He couldn’t help but speed up, making Honey’s moans tumble out of her mouth. “Ah, Simon!” She moaned, her eyes heavy with pleasure. Every nerve in her body felt like it was on fire, but in the best way possible. Her eyes rolled back slightly, her mouth hanging wide open. “Fuuuuuck.” She whined, her toes curling as her body started to get worked up. “C’mon, bunny. Keep goin’, you can take it.” Simon mumbled, fucking her harder. Honey’s head fell back, her back arching slightly. “God, fuck- Oh shit.” Simon gasped at the change of angle. His grip on her thighs tightened, sure to leave bruises of his fingertips. He moved her ankles so that they were resting on his shoulders, his arms wrapped around her legs.

She was so tiny that her ankles barely reached his shoulders, but at this point, he didn’t care. All he could think about was this tight, wet cunt that he had the pleasure of fucking. And though he was drunk, he was going to do it right.  One of his hands moved down to her belly, pressing just below her belly button. Her body immediately curled in on itself, her eyes shooting wide open.

“FUCK!” She sobbed loudly, her thighs clenching.

“C’mon, bunny. Cum f’me. Cum all over this cock.” Simon growled, making sure not to change a single thing for her. He felt her walls tightly squeeze his cock and watched as her eyes rolled back, watching as her hands gripped the sheets. Simon let out a groan, his own eyes rolling back as he gave her one more incredibly deep thrust, filling her full of his sticky cum.

He stayed in her for a few seconds, trying to catch his breath before pulling out. Once he was done, he laid on his back, pulling Honey onto his chest. His hand gently rubbed her back, and he pressed a gentle kiss against the top of her head.

“Did such a good job, luv. You’re so gorgeous.” He murmured softly, gently rubbing her shoulders. Her eyes were heavy, and her breathing was falling into a steady rhythm. Soon enough, her eyes gently shut, unable to bear the weight of exhaustion anymore. And he followed soon after.

So, within the next few days, she went home. Back to Germany. But not without someone going with her. Price didn’t want her to be alone, so he sent Ghost with her. They shared Honey’s home in Germany. It was a cute little cottage-esque house tucked away in a little village called Cleverbrück, which was in Lübeck. Her house was red brick, with big vines growing up the sides of it. It had neat bushes, and it felt very cozy. It was secluded, so she had plenty of space to herself. Inside, there was a fireplace and a big bookshelf, and it felt like something that you would read out of a fantasy book. There were soft couches, wooden accents, a coffee table with a few books on it, and lots of warm lighting. “Put your bags wherever you would like.” Honey mumbled, setting her own bag on the floor by the coat rack. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun, and not the cute kind. She looked like an utter disaster. Her eyes were drooped, losing their vibrancy; her skin had paled and looked dull; her posture and body were haggard. She slipped her shoes off, putting them onto the rack before shuffling over to the kitchen to make tea. “Thanks, Hon.” Simon said softly, taking off his shoes and setting his bag next to hers. She nodded, leaning against the counter as she waited for the kettle to boil. Simon came up next to her, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m here for you. You’re safe.” He whispered. She nodded, looking up at him. She looked so worn out and dull. Her eyes had lost their sparkle, finding a cold green to settle to, instead of her usual forest green. And he wanted to bring that back, breathe a little bit of life back into her. 

He didn’t touch her, but the look he gave her was one that spilled his feelings for her. The feelings that he didn’t want to allow himself to have, but they were inevitable at this point. His hand naturally and slowly came up to cup her cheek, his thumb grazing her soft skin. His eyes connected the freckles that dotted her cheeks, like the stars in the sky. He gently pressed his forehead to hers. Her hand reached up, gently touching the back of his hand, her eyes on his. It was such a peaceful moment with the quiet of the house, their matched breathing, and just them. That was, until the squeal of the kettle broke it all, shattering at their feet. Honey quickly turned, letting go of him. 

His hands dropped to his sides, his eyes watching as she moved. She grabbed two mugs, putting two tea bags in each before pouring the steaming water into them. The steam carried up the scent of the blackberry tea, making the house smell all that much more relaxing. Simon closed his eyes for a second, admiring the peace.

She placed a mug in his hand before silently ushering him to sit down on the couch in the living room. She sat on the other couch, across from him, snuggling under a blanket. “Honey,” he said, watching her. Her eyes met his, the blanket wrapped around her. “Are you okay?” He asked, cupping the mug with both of his hands. She shrugged, letting out a sigh. “Just... don’t want to be alone, I guess.” She whispered. He nodded in understanding, aching to hold her. “I’m here.” He whispered, opening his arms for her. This was such an out of character thing for him; he hated physical touch, but there was something about Honey that made him want to change that. It was like his body, his soul, and his mind craved her. And to his surprise, she got up, taking her blanket with her. She sat next to him, laying her head on his chest. Her shoulder was under his armpit, his arm wrapped around her other shoulder. “I’ve never felt this way before,” he murmured under his breath, like he was too scared to say it aloud. “My heart aches for you, my body craves you, and my soul yearns for you in ways that I thought were never possible.” He added. 

“I..” She whispered, closing her eyes. “I can’t do this, Simon. You know that.” She whispered. He brushed his hand along the side of her head, his fingers raking softly through her hair. He stayed silent, looking out of the window before taking a sip of his tea and letting out a long sigh. He knew that. He knew that she needed time, but he couldn’t help it. He had hated her so much in the start, but he was swept off of his feet at this point. He knew he shouldn’t have been so stupid, so reckless. Of course she needed time. Of course she needed space. He was betting on a losing dog, and he knew it. 

He nodded, closing his eyes as he gently rubbed her arm. “I apologize, Honey. I know you’re hurting, and I know you’re still processing everything. That’s my bad. Just… Just forget what I said, alright?” He sighed. Honey looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. “I’m scared. It’s too early for me to commit to a relationship. I'm not ready. I can’t give my all to you, the way you deserve. I need to get my life back together before I try anything.” “I know, Honey. I’ll back off.” He whispered. “Why don’t we get some dinner and go to bed, alright? What do you want to do? Do you want to go out and get food, cook, or order in?” He asked. They decided on ordering in, just ordering some Italian food. There was pasta, and Honey had a bottle of wine that they split, drinking the entire bottle between the two of them. They had about 3 and a half glasses each, and Honey, being so little, was really drunk. He gently scooped her up, bringing her upstairs. “Simon.” She whined, resting her head on his chest. “Hmm?” He hummed, bringing her into her bedroom. She didn’t say another word, just smashing her lips against his. He almost immediately pulled away, shaking his head. “You’re drunk, Hon. Go to sleep.” He said, laying her down on her bed. He wasn’t drunk like her, but he was a bit tipsy. He still knew right from wrong, and he knew that they definitely shouldn’t do anything. “No.” She murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck so that he couldn’t leave. “Honey.” He said in a stern voice, taking her arms off of him. “Go to sleep. Goodnight.” He said, tucking her in. “Simon.” She whined again, pulling him on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, and he closed his eyes, panic racking through him as his PTSD sparked up. He immediately shoved her off, leaving the room and going to the guest room. His breaths were ragged, his eyes closed as he gripped the sheets on the guest bed, leaning against the side of it, on his hands. Honey immediately got up, sprinting after him as best as she could. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Please, I’m sorry.” She said, starting to panic as well. He let out a breath, his eyes meeting hers as he tried to snap out of it. He ran his hands over his face, shaking his head. 

“Go to bed.” He said, pointing to the door. Honey immediately nodded with a small gulp, turning and going back to her room. Within a few minutes, she could hear him leave the house, and his rental car start. 

Simon drove to a quiet place, where he could be alone for a bit, tears rolling down his cheeks as he parked the car on the side of the road, near a hill. He walked up the hill, sitting down on the grass as he looked up at the stars. He buried his head in his hands, closing his eyes. “Why?” He muttered, his fists clenching as he stared down at the ground. “Why?” He growled, wanting answers from the universe. “Why do I love her?” He whimpered, tears starting to flow freely. He couldn’t let go; he wanted her, needed her even. His soul ached without her presence, but he couldn’t stand to see her at the moment. He swore to himself that he would never be in love because all of the things he loved were always torn away from him. 

He didn’t want that to happen to her. He didn’t want to hurt her, or he didn’t want her to end up hurt. 

In the morning, Honey woke up with a pounding headache, a black eye, and a few other bruises. She opened her sore eyes, watching Ben’s chest rise and fall. Tears pricked her eyes as she tried to move, but her body was far too sore to want to work. She powered through, gritting her teeth and getting out of bed. She went into the bathroom, shutting the door. Glancing down, she noticed the dent in the wood of the door, from where her head had been slammed into it months ago. She glanced in the mirror, taking in the bruises and marks. The broken blood vessels that wrapped around her green irises, the purple that marred the skin around her eye, going up onto the bridge of her nose. There was no way of hiding this.

She shed her clothes, starting the shower, getting it warmed up. While she waited, she looked at the big bruise on her upper thigh, which would be easier to hide. She let out a sigh, stepping into the shower. 

As the hot water pounded against her skin, leaving it red and irritated, she sat down on the floor, curling her knees to her chest. Tears stung her eyes before rolling down her cheeks, mixing with the water that poured down around her. She rested her forehead on her knees, tearing herself apart internally. 

Was zum Teufel habe ich getan, um das Universum so zu verärgern? (What the hell did I do to piss off the universe like that?) 

About 20 minutes had passed before the water had started to run cold. She got out, got dressed, and put her uniform on. She covered the bruises on her face to the best of her abilities, but the broken blood vessels in her eyes were a dead giveaway. She shook her head, trying to get her mind in the right place. She had to go to work. She needed to get ready. She went into the bedroom, gently placing a soft kiss against Ben’s cheek before leaving. She got onto base, and into the briefing room. The rest of the team was already there and waiting, so Honey found a spot away from the team as much as possible. “Good morning, Sergeant.” Laswell smiled softly. Honey gave her a nod in response, mumbling a greeting back. 

“So, to start the briefing, we have intel that there has been a connection between Makarov and someone close to the team. We aren’t sure yet, so whatever you do: do not point fingers.” Laswell started. Everyone in the room looked over at Honey, and it made her gut sink. This was the last thing that she needed. 

Honey choked back the whimper that was threatening to escape, closing her eyes.

“Now, because Makarov is eliminated, we are unsure who the intel is going to and who is in control. The Konni group has attachments, and we are aware.” Price said, his voice gruff. He cleared his throat, crossing his arms. Honey could feel everyone's eyes digging into her, and that’s when she broke. She stood up, leaving the room, tears racing down her cheeks. To the team’s surprise, Ghost was the one to stand up and go after her. Chasing after her, he quickly caught up, grabbing her by the shoulders and pinning her to the cold, brick wall. The back of her head slammed against it as she was forced to look up at him. “Fuck you. Fuck you.” Ghost growled, his voice deep and full of hurt. “I didn’t do anything!” She whimpered, trying to push him off of herself. “That’s bullshit! You fucker. I knew we never should have recruited you. Fuck you.” Ghost yelled, making the team rush out of the briefing room. Soap immediately shoved Ghost off of Honey. “Back the fuck up! We don’t know if it’s her! We don’t have any proof!” Soap growled, grabbing Ghost by the shoulders. 

Ghost let out a growl, pushing Soap off of himself. He grabbed Honey by the jaw, making her look up at him. That’s when he noticed the bruising around her eye. He let go of her, stepping back. “You’re not off the hook.” He muttered, walking away. The team checked up on Honey, but she was too shaken to explain everything. 

“What happened to your eye? Was that Ghost?” Gaz asked, gently guiding her jaw upwards to look at him. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. “No, my.. My boyfriend.” She sniffled softly, wiping her tears away. “I’m sorry.” She added, starting to sob. Gaz pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly and running his hand along the slicked back portion of her bun. 

“Why don’t ya move in wit’ me fer the time bein’? Just till ye get back on yer feet.” Soap offered softly. She looked up at him, desperately wanting out, but not wanting to be a burden. She slowly nodded, letting out a breath. “I’m so sorry.” She sniffled, wiping her tears away. Soap gently brought her into a hug, rubbing her back. 

About a week later, Honey was moving out from her house. She was packing her things, grabbing her stash of money that was under the mattress. Ben was at work, so she had a little bit of time to get her things packed and ready. As she lifted the mattress, she saw a few manilla envelopes that were new. She grabbed one of them, opening it up. 

Ben. 

The next words she saw were Vladimir Makarov. 

Her breath caught in her throat, grabbing all of the files and immediately calling Soap.

“Hey. Can you come over? Please.” Honey panicked, her breaths coming in heaves. 

“Aye, I’m on my way. Jus’ gimme 10 minutes.” Soap replied, standing up and rushing out of his house. He barely had time to put his shoes on or anything, but he got there within the 10 minutes that he promised. When he got there, Honey answered the door, leading him upstairs. 

“Ben and Makarov.” She whispered, tears pricking her eyes. 

"Alrigh’. Let's grab those files and get out of here. I'll call tha others and have them meet us at tha base. We cannae stay here any longer." Soap says calmly, trying to reassure Honey.

She nodded, following Soap out. They grabbed what little she had packed, got it loaded into Soap’s truck, and made their way onto base. An emergency briefing was immediately planned, and as soon as they stepped foot on base, they were sent to the briefing room. 

“Alright. This changes everything. Honey is now a walking target, as well as the rest of us. Because Ben has been found out, that means he’ll be after Honey.” Laswell stated, looking at the files. “How do we know she doesn’t have a part in this? She could have planted the files. They could be faked. She could be trying to get us off of her ass.” Ghost muttered, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. He had an intense look in his eyes, something was simmering under the surface, and they all knew that dam was about to break. 

“You’re right, we don’t know, but we don’t have any proof of that. We will get the files authenticated.” Price replied, leaning against the table, his weight on his knuckles as he stood. Soap nodded, looking over at Gaz, who agreed. “Please, get them authenticated.” Honey replied, wanting them to see the truth. She wanted to be believed. 

“But what.. How did he know that you were joining the team?” Ghost questioned. 

“He’s the one who landed me the job.” Honey whispered. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as everything lined up and played out in front of her. 

The team went silent, the air thickening as they thought about that response. Was she telling the truth? That was the most pressing question in everyone’s mind. It all lined up almost too much. 

“Well, we’ll find out soon.” Price sighed, putting the files together and putting them in another envelope.

The following days, tensions got thicker and heavier, all of that weight pressing down on Honey’s chest. She laid in the bed in Soap’s guest bedroom, staring up at the ceiling. It felt like there was this ten ton weight constantly on her chest. She hadn’t really moved out of bed since Price excused her for the time being. She blinked away tears as bile bubbled up in her chest, threatening to spill. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she fought the urge to puke.  

There was a soft knock on the door, drawing her attention away from the ceiling. She glanced over as Soap came in. “They were authentic. No foul play or anythin’. Ye’re right.” Soap said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Honey nodded, staring up at the ceiling again. 

“I’m sorry for all of this,” He added, rubbing his forehead. 

“At least ye’ll be out of here soon. You’ve got wha’? Three months left ‘ere on the team?” Soap asked. Honey nodded, choosing to stay silent. She felt hurt, betrayed, but she understood. She was the newcomer on the team, they had every right to think she was suspicious. But at the same time, she was sick of always being voted against, vetoed, thrown away at the last second. She just wanted to stay in one place for once, but everything felt so impossible. “I might leave the military.” She whispered, rubbing her forehead. Soap tsked at that. She was a good soldier, a good person, and she knew what she was doing, so for her to leave the military, that would be bad for everyone around her. But, he couldn’t be selfish. She had the right to choose what she wanted to do with her life, and he couldn’t choose that for her. 

“Hon, I understan’ but think about all the missed opportunities. Ye could get paid to see the world.” Soap said softly. 

“No, what I get paid for is taking the lives of people.” Honey replied, letting out a sigh as tears pricked her eyes. This was always the hardest part of the job, knowing that you’re a government assigned murderer. She knew that she only took out bad people, but one person’s enemy is another person’s hero. 

“These people have families, Soap. Just like you and me.” She whispered, her German accent getting a little thicker as she got emotional. 

“I understan’. And I think about tha’ a lot.” Soap replied, resting his hand on her arm. 

During the passing week, Honey laid low at Soap’s house, and they kept each other safe. The team had announced that Ben was now a target — and targets needed to be taken out. Honey was assigned with taking out Ben, which was a hard thing for her to do. 

This was the man that she loved, the man that also treated her like shit, but she loved him. They had been together for so long, but now, here she was, sitting on a roof with Ghost right next to her, watching as Ben made his coffee rounds. 

“Let me take the shot. You sit back.” Ghost murmured. “I was assigned to take the shot, I’m supposed to take it.” Honey replied, shaking her head as she looked through her scope. 

“I don’t care. You’re not going to shoot him. It’s harder than it looks.” Ghost replied. She let out a long sigh, feeling like this was a nasty game of ‘you took my kill, I’ll take yours’. She complied, scooting back a little. They waited until Ben sat down, focused on his phone. They waited for all of the civilians to move out of the way and clear before Ghost took the shot. Screams erupted as Ben’s head was literally blown off, and Honey let out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding. Tears pricked her eyes and she put her head down, resting it on the roof, next to her rifle. 

"Heilige Scheiße. (holy shit.)” She mumbled, taking a deep breath. Ghost watched the area, making sure that there were no other possible threats before he slowly looked over at Honey, putting his hand on her back.

“Time to move.” He said, guiding her to stand. She took her rifle, standing on her feet, looking down at Ben’s body that was across the street.

“Don’t look.” Ghost grunted, grabbing her bicep and leading her away. Honey felt sick to her stomach, her face paling as she let out a deep breath. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, but she kept moving. This was her job, Ben was a target, and this was necessary for more people to live and be safe. That didn’t get rid of the pain, though. It still hurt her.

But he couldn't fall for her. It was inappropriate. He was her Lieutenant, and she had a boyfriend. 

"Tank. What should I do?" He sighed, rubbing his forehead as he sat in his recliner. Tank blinked up at him, letting out a chirp in response. Simon glanced at his watch, taking in the time. He had to get to work soon. 

He got in the shower, letting the hot water cascade from behind, down his shoulders, and down his muscular body. He scolded himself mentally as Honey weaseled her way back into his mind, making his cock twitch. 

"Goddammit." He growled under his breath, closing his eyes and leaning his head back, letting the water roll down his forehead. He kept his hands away, not wanting to associate his subordinate with that. She had a boyfriend, and it wasn't him. He didn't want to be hers, he didn't want to be anyones'. He just wanted to be him — not tied down. 

He turned so that he was facing the water, rubbing his face, and especially around his eyes, which was a habit that he had gained from rubbing the eye black off of his face. 

He washed his hair, face, and body before getting out of the shower, and getting ready for work. He got dressed, got his gear on, put his eye black on, put his mask on, and left. 

When he got on base, Honey was still asleep in their shared room. The room was pitch black, and not wanting to bother her, Ghost shut the door behind himself as he came in. He fumbled around in the dark for a moment, trying to find the lamp that sat in the corner of the room. He eventually found it, turning it onto its lowest setting. He glanced over at her, watching as she stirred a little due to the sudden light in the room. 

He didn’t bother, turning back to his paperwork that sat on his desk — the paperwork that he still had yet to finish. He let out a long sigh, starting to read through it. 

After about twenty minutes of reading, filling out the forms, and signing things, Honey started to wake up. She sat up slowly, rubbing her weary eyes. 

“The other day,” Ghost started, keeping his eyes on the paper which he was writing on. 

“Pretend like it never happened. You never saw me at the shops, you never came over, none of it, Tailer.” He added, using her last name. 

Honey was taken aback a little — she thought that they were on better terms now, but apparently they weren’t. She sat there, watching the back of his head, taking in every detail. 

She wanted to ask questions. 

She wanted to ask why? 

Or what she had done. 

But she didn’t. She kept her silence, and though he couldn’t see, she nodded. She got out of her bed and started getting ready for the day. She put her hair in a bun, got her uniform on, and put her socks and boots on. 

Meeting with the rest of the team, Honey stood outside, the fresh morning breeze surrounding her. The sky was still and gray — which was average for a British morning, something she had gotten used to. The hums of truck engines and the distant sound of NCO’s barking orders at newer recruits filled the otherwise stagnant air. 

“Good ta see ya, lassie. ‘Ow’re ya doin’?” Soap grinned, clapping her on the back. 

“Well.” Honey nodded politely with a small smile drawing on her own lips. She glanced back at Soap, her eyes landing on his sapphire blue eyes. 

He nodded, taking his hand off of her back. He stood next to her, his chest puffed out slightly, his hands on his hips as he watched the base run like it always did. 

“What’s it like in Germany? A’ve been a few times, but never enough to really take in my surroundin’s, yanno?” Soap asked. 

“It’s nice. Where I’m from, the architecture is beautiful. It’s um..”

“I don’t know the word in english,” She giggled softly, trying to think. “Rote Ziegelsteingotik (Red brick Gothic)." She added. Soap nodded along, pretending to understand what she said. He didn’t speak a lick of German, but he was starting to pick up on it now that Honey was there. 

“Sounds beautiful, Lassie.” Soap smiled. “Jus’ like ya.” He added. Ghost’s neck nearly snapped with how quickly he looked over at Soap, shooting him daggers. 

Soap, on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of Ghost’s stare. Honey stood there, noticing the both of them. She cringed inwardly, but nodded with a smile, shoving down the awkwardness that was creeping.

“Thank you.” She said softly, glancing away. Her eyes wandered, watching a few trucks pass by. 

“Alright, lets get this show on the road, ‘ey?” Price smiled as he approached the team. Gaz took his spot next to Honey, staying quiet. He offered her a friendly smile, which she returned. 

After running five and a half miles with the team, they got breakfast, and Honey was sitting at the end of the table with Soap next to her, Price across from her, Gaz next to Price, and Ghost next to Gaz. 

Ghost wanted to be as far away from Honey as possible. He didn’t want anything to do with her, now that he had seen her as a civvy — especially because she had seen him that way too. Simon had been kind to her, repaying her for her own kindness, while Ghost didn’t want anything to do with her. 

It was like a switch had been flipped, as soon as he put on his mask, he was Ghost. He was different. He was a war machine, he was intimidating, mean. And he wanted it that way, but he also never wanted anyone to see Simon ever again. 

When he was Simon, he felt vulnerable, and he was kind and caring, like a little boy again. The boy that was beaten and treated as less than valuable his entire life — less than a person, less than alive, so he became a Ghost. Separating the two, and shunning Simon away. Simon never wanted anyone to go through what he did, but Ghost wanted everyone to go through it. 

Later that night, the team went out for drinks to celebrate their last win against Makarov. It was definitely one for the books, and now that they had time to do it, that’s what they were going to do. Get absolutely hammered. 

Honey could drink— and she was keeping drinks down well. She sat at the bar with Soap, drinking her third glass of Jägermeister on the rocks. 

“Lass, that’s fuckin’ disgustin’.” Soap chuckled, shaking his head. 

“I’m German.” She shrugged with a giggle. He shook his head for a second time, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Ghost sat at the end of the bar, as far away as possible. He was nursing a glass of Jack Daniels, neat. 

‘Nothing forces a man to face his feelings for a woman more than the interest of another man.’

His eyes lingered on the two, maybe he was protective, but he didn’t want to care. She had a boyfriend —who was a piece of shit— and she seemed comfortable with Soap. He lifted his mask a little, taking a sip off of his drink before putting his mask down. 

Honey caught sight of the lower half of his face, mentally trying to piece together what he looked like under there.

He had a sharp nose, sharp eyes, sharp jawline, soft lips that were slightly pouted, and glasgow smile scars. They arched up from the corners of his mouth and all the way to just under his cheekbone. Honey couldn’t see the end of it, but she knew they had to be pretty long. 

Glasgow smiles were acquired from being tortured— the assailant would slice the edges of your mouth and make you scream, either by kicking, stabbing, whatever it be, they would make you scream, which would in turn rip the wound open. And to know that he went through it and survived sent a chill down her spine. 

She looked back down at her drink, taking a long sip. “I’m gonna need a few more of these.” She giggled. “Maybe tequila.” She added, nudging Soap, who chuckled in return. He ordered her drink, and she traded her old glass for the tequila, which she nearly chugged. She stuck her tongue out, shaking her head, trying to get the flavor off of her tongue. “Christ.” She giggled, her eyes narrowed in disgust. Price chuckled next to her, patting her back. 

A few hours later, Honey was hammered, and stumbling around everywhere. She had been drinking all night, and she wasn’t drinking lightly. Ghost went out to have a cigarette, and Honey stumbled out of the pub a minute later, unaware that he was there. She plopped down on the concrete, digging in her pocket for her cigarettes. She pulled one out, putting it to her lips and drunkenly lighting it, nearly missing her cigarette. 

She took a long hit, letting the smoke fill her lungs. Ghost glanced over at her, his arms crossed with his own cigarette between his fingers. She glanced up at him, her eyes lighting up. 

“Hiii!” She smiled, happy to see him. He gave her a curt nod, glancing away, watching the road. She scrambled to her feet, coming over to him. He looked back down at her, his brow arching as he tried to decipher why she was there. 

“Sooooo, howave you been?” She slurred, looking up at him with a big grin. He couldn’t tell if her cheeks were flushed because of the alcohol or him. He gave a grunt in response, looking away. 

“You need to go home. You’re drunk.” Ghost replied. “Don’t have a rideeee.” She whined, taking another drag off of her cigarette, letting the smoke out after a second. 

“I’ll give you one.” He replied, looking back down at her. He wasn’t drunk, he had only nursed his Jack Daniels all night, but that was it. She nodded, leaning back against the brick wall. He unlocked his car, pointing to it as the headlights flashed for a second. “Go sit in there. I’ll be back in a minute.” He grumbled, putting out his cigarette and going back in the bar. 

Honey went over to his car, getting into the passenger seat. She sat there, glancing around his car, taking it in. It smelled like him — the smell that she remembered from his house. Cigarettes, whiskey, vanilla, sandalwood, and a hint of cinnamon. She leaned back in her seat, buckling up and resting her head back against the headrest, closing her eyes as the world spun around her. 

It was a 2023 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante in Ultramarine Black, a luxury car. She opened her eyes and glanced around, taking in the size of it. There was no way that that man could fit in here.

He was 6’4”, muscular, and over all, big. She watched as he came back out, walking back to the car. He opened the driver’s side door, sinking down into his seat. His knees nearly touched the steering wheel, making Honey giggle. 

“Du bist zu groß (You’re too big).” She giggled, letting her head lazily lull to the side. 

“Huh?” Ghost grunted, his brow furrowing. He didn’t speak German, and apparently nobody on the team did, except for her.

“I said, you’re too big for this car.” She smiled, her grin lopsided from the alcohol. 

“You’d be surprised to see how hard it is to find a car that can fit me.” He murmured, starting the engine. 

The rest of the drive to Honey’s house was silent, and when they got there, Ben was sitting on the porch, waiting for her to come home like some kind of predator. He sat there, watching as the car pulled up, his eyes narrowing. He leaned back in his chair, sinking back into the shadows. 

Simon got out of the driver’s seat, coming around to the passenger side. He opened the door for her, letting her out. He gently took her tiny hand in his, carefully pulling her to her feet. Simon glanced around, checking their surroundings before leading her up to the front gate. Ben stood up, making Simon’s eyes shoot up. He gently let go of Honey, not wanting to piss Ben off — but it was too late for that. 

Ben stormed up to the gate, grabbing Honey by the arm. She looked up at him, her eyes wide. 

“Get in here, now.” Ben growled, opening the gate and nearly throwing Honey through it. 

“Ben!” She gasped, clinging to him for some sort of balance. She was hammered, couldn’t walk straight if her life depended on it, and Ben was throwing her around like she was nothing. Simon stood there, the look in his eyes changing for a moment, but he didn’t know what to do. He stood there, his eyes distant as he remembered what it was like to be ripped around like that. What it was like to feel like you weighed nothing, and not in a good way.

He took her inside before Simon even realized, and he stood there. Remembering. 

His father’s handprints burned into his skin, like an old wound bubbling up again. The thought of it made his stomach churn. He couldn’t let this happen to Honey, but it was too late. She was already inside, the door was already locked, and he was standing there like an idiot. Knowing that she was drunk and possibly defenseless made him feel so sick. 

He glanced back at his car, debating on whether he should leave or stay. What could he do if he stayed? He couldn’t just barge in and say ‘oh, hey, that’s not right’, but he couldn’t leave her like that either. She could be hurt, or worse. He didn’t want to think about it, but the thought wouldn’t leave his mind. 

They were part of a family now, tight knit. And though Ghost didn’t like her, he was still a decent human being. He wouldn’t let her suffer, right? 

All of his social media was private, and never gave any information about him, making sure that it was completely anonymous. He didn't even like having a phone on him — or at all. He knew that if shit hit the fan, and the enemy found his phone, anyone he had in there could be fucked over. He never saved contacts, never had any pictures of anyone, and especially never took pictures with anyone.

Within the next 20 minutes, the shower stopped, and within minutes afterwards, Honey stepped out, dressed in her uniform, her hair tied in a braid that rested between her shoulder blades, tracing along her spine.

"Did I wake you?" She asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

Ghost grumbled something in response, not bothering to give her an actual reply. He glanced up, watching as Honey put her boots onto her feet — pushing the tongue out of the way, sliding her foot in, pulling the sides up, ensuring that the ends of her pants went into the boots, and lacing them tight. She tugged on the ends of her pants for a moment, giving them a neater look.

"When is breakfast?" She questioned softly.

"5." Ghost grunted, paying more attention to his phone than her.

"This is temporary, I am temporary. It's not like I'll be here forever." Honey reminded him.

"I know." Ghost replied, glancing up at her for a moment.

For the next hour, Honey sat on her bed, reading a book. The silence and the tension radiating from Ghost was palpable.

As soon as Simon's watch went off, they both stood up, and went to the mess hall. They met with the rest of the team, and Honey sat sandwiched between Price and Gaz. Soap and Ghost sat across from them.

"You did well yesterday, kid." Price smiled as he ate his breakfast.

"Thank you, Captain." Honey said softly with a small nod. She looked down at her food, keeping her eyes off of the team as she ate.

"Four months left with ye?" Soap questioned. Honey nodded again.

"Months?" Ghost said, almost whining. He didn't want to be stuck with her for months.

"Simon, dinnae be a prick." Soap said, nudging him with a disapproving look.

"She thinks she's better than everyone, Soap! She's the one who got the shot, she's the one who walked in here, killed the guy that we've been hunting for years. That was supposed to be my shot!" Ghost growled, starting to get frustrated.

"Step outside, Simon." Price said, standing up and grabbing him by the bicep, getting him to his feet. Price led him outside of the mess hall, shutting the door behind them.

"I don't know what stick got up your ass, but you need to do something about it. I've never seen you act this way." Price said, looking up at Ghost. Though Ghost was the tallest of the team, Price could reduce him down to Simon.

Price was like Ghost's father figure — the father that he never had.

"There's something about her, Price. I'm telling you. I don't like her. She's... off." Ghost replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm sorry, Cap. I know I'm probably being irrational, but I can't stand her. Can we at least transfer rooms or something?" Ghost sighed.

"How about you get some time off, yeah? Time to relax and think. She hasn't done anything to you, correct?" Price asked, his eyebrow raising.

"No, Sir. She hasn't done anything to me. She just gets on my nerves. Like she knows exactly where to pull and push me." Ghost replied.

Price nodded, looking up at him. "We don't have anything going on for these next few days except for paperwork. I'll send you home, and email you the paperwork. You can print it, do it, and then come back with it." Price replied. Ghost nodded, letting out a sigh of relief.

With a pat on Ghost's back, Price sent him home.

The next few days were filled with his usual routines, finding the much needed solace in them. He woke up at the same time, watered his plants, read a book, fed his cats, did whatever he needed to.

Simon had two cats, Trooper and Tank. They were brothers — Simon figured getting them both would make it easier on them. They were both Ragdolls, Trooper having a cream colored body, brown paws, and a brown head. Tank had a cream colored body with a cream head, and a brown tail with brown paws. Trooper was the more playful of the two, Tank being the most laid-back.

Simon sat in his recliner, Tank perched on his knee, and Trooper sitting on the back of the recliner as Simon read his book. He had his reading glasses on as he skimmed over the pages. The ringing in his ears from the gunfire that was constantly around him was a thing that he had gotten used to. It served to take his mind off of the incomprehensible silence that always wracked his home.

After about an hour, Simon put his book down, standing up. It was almost 5 pm, which meant that he would have to start making dinner soon.

"What should I have for dinner, boys?" Simon sighed, looking down at the cats that trailed behind him more than his own shadow did. Trooper let out a chirp, and Simon nodded, pretending to understand him.

After a bit of debating with himself, Simon decided on pesto and pasta. Checking the cupboards, he noticed he was out of pasta. He put his shoes on, grabbed his keys, and a black surgical mask and left.

While at the store, he grabbed the necessary things. Standing in line, that's when he realized he forgot his wallet.

"Fuck." He muttered under his breath, feeling his pockets. A hand shoved a £20 bill in his hand, and he looked up at the person who did so. It was Honey.

"Don't worry about it." She smiled softly, clearly not recognizing him.

He stared down at her for a moment, refusing to take the money.

"Sergeant." He said under his breath. That's when Honey's face dropped a little. She gave him a nervous smile, motioning for him to take it.

"It's really no problem, Sir." She said softly, watching as he took it out of her hand.

"I owe you." He said getting his groceries. Honey shook her head, buying her own things.

"I told you not to worry."

"I refuse to let this go unpaid."

"Lieutenant."

"I'll let you come over and have dinner, how about that?"

Honey's heart nearly stopped in her chest when he said that. She looked up at him in disbelief, blinking up at him. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

"Um.. Yeah. Y-Yeah." She stuttered out. He gave her a nod, and they went back to their cars. Honey followed him to his house, and he let her inside. She glanced around the place, taking her shoes off at the door.

"Listen, I'm sorry for whatever I did to you. I understand that you're upset about the shot, and that's completely fair." She said, standing shyly by the door.

"What's unfair is my attitude towards you." He replied, watching as Tank and Trooper peeked out curiously from under the couch. Honey glanced over, a small smile finding her face.

Simon turned back to the stove, getting ready to cook.

"There's beer in the fridge, make yourself comfortable." He announced, getting all of his ingredients for the pesto. Honey nodded, going into the kitchen and grabbing a beer out of the fridge, sitting down at the kitchen island. She watched as he cooked, taking sips off of her beer.

"Where are you from?" He asked, attempting to make small-talk.

"Lübeck, Germany." She replied. "You're from Manchester, right?" She asked.

"How'd you know?" He questioned, his brow furrowed as he cooked.

"Accent." She said softly. He nodded, salting the water as he waited for it to boil.

"Got any friends here?" He asked after a few beats.

"A boyfriend, but he works a lot." She replied. He nodded, watching as the water started to boil. It wasn't enough to put the pasta in, but he was patient.

"What's his name?" Simon asked.

"Benjamin Morgan." Honey replied softly. Simon nodded, leaning back against the counter, crossing his arms.

"How long have you two been together?" He asked.

"About a year." She sighed softly. His eyebrow raised as he heard her tone. She didn't sound happy about that. He nodded for her to continue.

"He's a good guy, just.. has some problems." Honey shrugged softly.

"What kind of problems?"

Honey shrugged again, not wanting to get too into it. He nodded, understanding that he shouldn't dig deeper.

He turned, putting the pasta into the water.

"If you need a place to stay, let me know. You can stay here, or I can get a place arranged for you."

Honey's face dropped a little, looking up at him.

"Was I that easy to read?" She murmured under her breath.

"When someone's been through the same thing, they know." Simon replied.

"You're worth more than that, Honey. You don't deserve the shit he's put you through. No matter how much he leans on his problems." He added. Honey's breath caught in her throat as she blinked up at him.

"Thank you." She whispered. He gave a nod, watching as the cats came out.

"That's Trooper and Tank. Tank is the mostly cream one with the brown tail, Trooper is the one with the brown head. The colors fit the personalities. Trooper's a shithead." He said softly.

Honey giggled softly, shaking her head.

"Didn't know you were a cat person."

"Me neither."

Honey's demeanor warmed up a little, the weight lifting off of her chest as she looked down at the cats. They sauntered next to each other, their tails wrapping around each other.

"They're brothers. About four years old." Simon said, glancing down at the cats.

"They're pretty." Honey smiled, watching as the cats sniffed at her. She reached her hand down, letting them get a better smell. Tank rubbed his head against her palm, and Honey took the opportunity to pet him. She glanced into the living room, taking note of the library in the corner.

"You read too?" She asked softly. He nodded.

"What do you read?"

"A bit of everything."

"Romance?"

"Occasionally."

She giggled at that — surprised that a man like him would read something as simple as a romance novel.

"Most people don't guess that one. I like to feel loved as well." He grumbled, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he drained the pasta then put the sauce in.

Preparing for a mission, he went in with his normal routine - shower, get his gear on, put the mask on, prepare mentally, head to base, scan in, have breakfast, pack his tactical vest, check his gear, clean his weapons, and head out to the chopper by 0400.

This time, when he got to the chopper, there was a new face. Striking green eyes, long black hair that was slicked back into a regulatory military bun, fair skin, and God, was she short. Standing at four feet, eleven inches, just barely meeting the height requirements.

"Lieutenant." Laswell nodded as he approached. "This is Sergeant Honey Tailer, hope you don't mind her joining you today." She added with a smile. Ghost stuck his hand out for Honey to shake, which she accepted, giving him a firm shake back.

He took in her appearance one more time, noting her black, polished boots, her uniform, which wasn't digital camo, but more like spotted camo. She had a German flag on her shoulders and on her tactical vest.

"My pleasure, Lieutenant." She smiled softly, her German accent apparent in her words. It wasn't strong, it was subtle, she sounded like she had been speaking English her entire life - but she hadn't.

"It's great to meet you, Sergeant." He nodded, releasing her hand.

"Honey's going to be your DM for today. She'll provide surveillance, make sure you guys keep your heads." Laswell grinned as she looked over at Honey. DM, or designated marksman, was a good position to be in - a position that they needed in the team.

The team then loaded into the chopper, strapping into their seats. Honey's rifle sat on her chest, the barrel pointing to the tin floor of the chopper as she looked out of the window. She stared off, lost in thought, devising a plan on how she would go about this. It was an in and out mission, quick and easy - if things went according to plan.

Honey would provide recon and examine from a distance, while the team went in, gathering intel, hopefully going undetected, then Soap would plant the bombs, they would all get back onto the chopper, where Soap would detonate them.

"You'll do just fine, kid." Price's gruff voice snapped her out of thought as he patted her on the shoulder. Honey shot him a small, tight lipped, slightly nervous smile. She was used to this kind of stuff, but to work with a team she had never met, find her groove all over again, and to do it in time, was nerve wracking.

"This isn't your first time, right?" Ghost grunted as he looked over at her, his voice deep, almost like a growl.

"No, sir. I've been deployed multiple times." She replied with a nod.

Ghost took that in an almost snooty, stuck up way. Like she was so young, and she had all this experience, and she sounded like she was bragging about it. That irked him.

Instead of saying anything, he stayed quiet, crossing his arms over his chest. To pass the time, Honey put her AirPods in, and turned on some music, letting out a small sigh as she leaned back into her chair.

There was something about her that Ghost didn't find appealing. Something about her annoyed him, but he couldn't tell what it was.

The metallic sound of her ring clanking against her rifle as she tapped her fingers to the beat of the song she was listening to only made his annoyance grow.

"Wha' song are ye listenin' to?" Soap asked, nudging her.

"Oh, Love You To Death by Type O Negative." Honey said, looking over at him with a small smile.

"Damn, gothic stuff." Soap chuckled, cuing Honey to nod. "Yer pal, Ghostie over there loves that kind of music." Soap chuckled, nodding towards Ghost, making him let out a small scoff.

Not only was Honey now annoying him, she also had the same taste in music? That felt like it wasn't going to fly with him for whatever reason. He was already annoyed that his routine had been disrupted, and now, her presence alone annoyed him more.

"Alright, team. We're landing in Verdansk, just to refresh, you are to take out Makarov. He's in a highly guarded area, with plenty of people surrounding him." Laswell said over the comms.

"Copy." Honey replied, letting out a small sigh. She was the one who was tasked with disturbing the hive - taking out Makarov. She had already been filled in on why they needed him dead, and all the other necessary things such as his identity, where he would be at, his rank, what he looked like.

Once the chopper landed Price divided everyone into partners, and one trio. Ghost and Honey were tasked with surveillance. Ghost was Honey's spotter.

'I'm gonna be stuck with this annoying, snooty, stuck up bitch?' Ghost thought to himself. He kept his opinions inward, thankfully. Usually, with new recruits, he was very vocal about his disdain for them. This time, he kept his mouth shut, just wanting to get the mission done quicker.

Honey established a sniper's nest, and laid on the roof of the building opposite of where the team would be infiltrating.

"What's the drag?" Honey whispered, looking through her iron sights, ready to set her rifle up.

"Not a clue." Ghost grunted as he looked through the scope of his own rifle, adjusting accordingly. He did know, he just wanted her to struggle a bit, make her more 'human' in his eyes.

"You're no help." Honey muttered under her breath, looking down her iron sights again. She glanced over at Ghost for a moment, turning to her own rifle, contemplating something.

She deftly reached over, sliding the scope off of his rifle.

'Now she's trying to fuck with my gear?' Ghost scorned in his own mind. He looked over at her, his brows furrowed under his mask before he snatched his scope back, sliding it back on.

"Du erzeugst ein Glitzern." She growled, taking it back off.

"English." Ghost muttered under his breath, starting to get pissed off.

"You're creating a glint. There's people in that building that can see you because of your scope." She growled, looking over at the moon for a second before looking back at him. She subtly lifted her hand, pointing at the opposing building, and indeed, a faint reflection from the scope could be seen if you knew where to look.

He let out an audible scoff, rolling his eyes. He adjusted his rifle, getting used to just using his iron sights.

"It's a 42 meter separation, the wind is blowing south-east. We're facing north-west. The wind is 6 knots. Light breeze." He replied, telling her what she would need to adjust her rifle.

"Any visuals on Makarov?" Laswell said through the comms.

Honey glanced through a pair of binoculars for a second, seeing Makarov working at a table in an empty room, his back turned to the window.

"Positive. Black, short hair, suit, I can't tell how tall he is, but Ghost can verify that it's him." Honey replied through the comms. "It's him, Kate." Ghost muttered into the comms. "Permission to take the shot?" Honey asked Laswell.

"Granted." Laswell replied.

Honey put down the binoculars and Ghost picked them up, ready to watch Honey shoot Makarov.

Honey lined up her shot, calculating the drag, and the possible path that the bullet would take once it hit the glass. Doubt nibbled at the edges of her mind, raising its voice as her finger hovered over the trigger. But she pushed it away, reminding herself of the countless hours of training. She took a deep breath, pulling the rifle tight to her shoulder, holding her breath so that the shot was steady. She loaded her chamber, taking the rifle off of safety, and slowly squeezed the trigger.

Ghost's heart raced. He felt a pang of jealousy, mixed with a swirl of emotions. 'This should've been mine,' He thought, his chest tightening. 'This is my team. What does she think she's doing, muscling in on my territory?' His fists clenched around the binoculars, sweat dripping from his temple.

The bullet shattered through the glass, sending a gory red mist into the air as Makarov's head exploded. Ghost's jaw clenched as his anger bubbled, the realization of what just happened setting in.

Honey laid her rifle down, staying on her stomach as she glanced over to Ghost. She could see the tension in his body, the balaclava clinging to his face with each heavy gasp for air. Unsure of how to respond to Ghost's obvious displeasure, she gave him a small, tight lipped, reassuring smile.

Ghost glared back, his eyes filled with the intensity of his rage. 'She's taken everything from me,' he thought. 'I can't let her win. I can't let her take this from me too.'

In the aftermath, the team sat in stunned silence, their gazes fixed on the lifeless body now sprawled on the floor. The reality of their success hung in the air, a weighty, shared accomplishment that lingered, tainted by Ghost's bitter resentment. This was a man that they had been tracking for years and Honey came in and shot him like it was nothing. Like it was the easiest thing in the world. And God, that smile afterwards pissed him off so much more.

'What the fuck is she doing? This was supposed to be my job. What the hell does she know about shooting?' Ghost fought with himself internally. He hated this. He ha=ted everything about her.

The pair watched as the team infiltrated the room, occasional gunfire sounding through the air. Honey watched as Soap went in, took a laptop and all the needed files, planting a few bombs on his way out.

Honey stood up, grabbing her rifle, unloading the chamber and putting it back onto safety. Ghost stood up as well, grabbing his own rifle, storming his way back down the flight of stairs to the ground floor.

"Ghost." Honey said as she followed him, her rifle slung over her back. He didn't bother waiting for her, or even listening to her. He silently stormed his way back to the chopper, getting in, and buckling himself up.

Honey set their things back where they belonged on the chopper, ensuring that nothing would fall out. There was an awkward silence as they waited for the rest of the team to get back to where the chopper was. Nikolai sat in the cockpit.

"How was the mission? You finally nail him?" Nikolai grinned, his thick Russian accent apparent in his words as he looked back through the door, glancing at Ghost.

"Honey did." Ghost muttered, his fists balled under his biceps as he crossed his arms. "Her shot was just luck." He added, looking outside of the chopper, avoiding eye contact. He knew it was more than luck - it was skill, but he didn’t want to admit it.

Honey winced at his words, looking over at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. She glanced away, keeping her eyes off of him. She had always been doubted. She had worked her entire life for this moment, and the entire time, she had been doubted. She didn't know why it even hurt at this point - she should've expected it. But, she was going to stand up for herself for once - even if it didn't work.

Honey looked at him, her brow furrowing. "Luck?" She asked, her voice slightly hurt. "I took the damn shot, calculated it. I did everything I needed to. And it's just luck? I’ve worked my entire life for this, I’ve worked my ass off. Making sure that I could make a damn shot." She added. Honey wanted to get frustrated, she wanted to argue, but she took a deep breath, keeping her mouth shut.

Ghost's jaw dropped slightly at her response. His glare softened, his unwavering anger faltering for the first time. He didn't know what to say to counter her words, her confidence - and for once, he found himself at a loss.

'All of my years of practicing, honing, just for it to be chalked up to luck? Fuck this guy.' Honey thought to herself, letting out a sigh. She wanted to be on this team, she had worked for it for years. She wanted to be on the top - the best of the best, and this was her chance. She wasn't going to ruin it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the rest of the team getting into the chopper, carrying files, laptops, and USB sticks. Everything that they could get their hands on that could be important, they took.

"Let's watch this puppy blow." Soap chuckled as he buckled into the chopper. Nikolai lifted the chopper off the ground, getting it a distance away before Soap pressed the button, making the entire building explode and collapse in on itself.

Honey watched as the orange and yellow flames licked the air, huge billows of smoke and debris shooting up into the air.

"Christ." Honey murmured, watching the smoke shoot up. The blast wave then hit the chopper, making it sway and vibrate. Nikolai quickly corrected, starting their flight back. The flight back to base was almost silent, everyone processing what had just happened, and why it had happened.

'Why was Honey the one to kill Makarov? Why was this new recruit the one who got to end the man we had fought to kill for years? And why was it so easy for her?' Ghost was furious at the thought of it.

'Why did she get the pleasure? The satisfaction?'

When they got back to base, Ghost just wanted to get his report filled and then think things through in his quarters, but of course, Laswell had other plans.

"You and Honey are bunking together." Laswell said as she opened the door to his quarters. Honey stood behind Laswell, her bag slung on her shoulder as well as a few other things in her hands - two pillows and a blanket.

"What about Soap?" Ghost asked, looking over at the other bed in the room - the bed where Soap slept. That side of the room was blank, Soap moved rooms.

"Soap bunked with Gaz. We don't have another room for Honey, so she's going with you." Laswell said, turning around and walking away. Honey came in quietly, her steps silent.

She placed her things on the bed, avoiding him. She busied herself with the task of getting her things set up - making the bed, putting her things in her dresser and closet.

"There are rules here." Ghost grunted as he watched her, his attention drawn away from his paperwork.

"Keep your shit on your side of the room, keep it clean, keep it neat, and don't talk to me." He added. Honey didn't do anything but nod as she folded her clothes. Pajamas, uniforms, dress uniforms, civilian clothes - they were all put away neatly.

There was something about her, something that kept his attention away from his paperwork. Something that kept him from focusing. Maybe it was the rage towards her, maybe it was the envy - there was something. Something that he hated. Something that Simon despised. Ghost hated it more.