simon riley let me bite you

Price who's so deep in the closet he refuses to even acknowledge that part of himself most days. He joined the military because it's what men do and he's a man, right? He's a captain now, practically famous among those who share his position, he's locked the closet door with his own circumstance.

Not in a joking, metaphorical way, but literally treated like a dog.

He has a tactical dog collar just like the k-9s, worn and bloody from his days recovering from roba. The "do not pet" patch on his tac-vest is newer, a gift from gaz after ghost nearly bit a finger off on a bad day.

Speaking of bad days, he gets a muzzle on really bad ones, it helps him settle into a quiet obedient mind. He might be the lieutenant, but ghost is a dog for the sergeants too, though less respected than price. He's not above nipping either of them for acting out, or grapping them when he wants to play.

Of course, thats the privilege they get as a team. The first time graves tried to touch ghosts collar he had to be pulled away by four shadows after ghost locked his jaw onto graves arm.

Old blood is stuck between the beads and fiber, tiny flakes coat his thumb from where he rubs the cool gems. Soap had always told simon he wasn't religious, but if there were a place to believe in god it was on the battlefield.

Johnny, when you spoke of hell, did you mean this place? Simon wants to ask Did you mean here? There are no enemies and my apartment hasn't seen another soul in months.

Price has no use for broken soldiers.

Ghost wraps the rosary around and between fingers, pretends it's soaps hand he's holding to tight. Johnny, if I quit now would you forgive me? Would you save me a seat? Johnny i can't do this alone.

Ghost lifts his other hand.

It's the small acts that really gets his husband, things like only preparing his cup of tea and setting johns empty mug on the table where it would usually be full. When john asks about it, gaz just raises his brow "what? I thought you didn't like being coddled?"

Gaz knows john is a creature of habit when he's at home, so of course he "accidentally" moves the items that are always in the same exact place. Joyously sipping his drink while john makes his third lap around the house looking for his reading glasses but too stubborn to ask kyle where they are because "you own the house, john. Shouldn't you know where it is?"

What was the incident in question that led to gaz pointedly sitting in the armchair away from his cuddle spot nex to john?

The concept of ghost choosing to bitch himself post-roba and only trusting price to do it...

He's vulnerable and small from his time in captivity, alpha scent burnt and sour even with the medical-grade patches the hospital supplies. Everything his instincts are telling him to do feels wrong and in that weak moment between one nightmare and the next he asks the only man who's helped him for one more favor.

Price is so damn nice about it, too. Brings simon to the den, lets him acclimate to all the weird smells and feelings. He's willing to take his time after his future soldier practically asked to he molded into the perfect tool.

Oh and when ghost sobs and lashes out and tries to bite because price fucking him reminds him too much of roba? Price is already there with a bite muzzle and a calming scent, being the alpha ghost needs to find his centre in.

A hand-crafted mate, thats what he'll be. Kept on just the right side of raw so he can function the way he should.

Ghost is a wardog through and through. He's not truly a person after roba, doesn't do well without structure or someone to control him. Last time ghost took leave off base he ended up in the woods with dead bodies he didn't remember killing. He gets...weird, when left to himself. Less and less human.

So he doesn't fight back when gaz starts hanging around more, starts well...controlling him. Gaz will sit food on ghosts desk and stand there until he eats every bite, or reach across the table to take folders from him and say "you're done for the night. Go sleep."

Gaz is willing to put in the effort price hasnt. While price wants loyalty, gaz wants involvement. He enjoys deciding when ghost does stuff and why.

And ghost? He's absolutely in love. In the weird, codependent way only a traumatized soldier can be. He doesn't hold gazs hand, doesn't ask for kisses or sex, but the intimacy of gaz picking out ghosts shampoo or toothpaste is so much more than any act of physical intimacy.

Yes, he'll shove his hand in an anthill if it works with the imaginary joke he has planned out. The one pleasure in life ghost affords himself is amusement.

He lives in a shitty apartment with holes in the walls. Two condiment bottles and a jar of pickles in his fridge. He doesn't have a bedframe and has been inhaling mold for years now. Ghost doesn't allow himself silly things for comfort.

He does, however, allow himself to climb onto the roof of base and do his jogging up there in the early mornings for the sole fact of terrifying the recruits.