scott

my heroes

The mission is over, technically. Thankfully. Because there's no way that Gaz is maintaining any kind of situational awareness with Ghost huffing and grunting in his ear like this.

At first, he'd thought the sniper was running, had almost made a joke about him getting old and soft from laying about in a nest all day. Hell, the heat is getting to him, too; he's sweating so much he's been fantasizing about a cold shower.

Well all of that comes to a screeching halt when Ghost pants "Gaz, Kyle. Fuck." then grunts like it comes from deep in his belly.

Gaz's brain goes from fantasizing to fantasizing real quick. He imagines the way that tattooed forearm flexes, this his other hand must still be on his service weapon, just in case. Would he still be wearing his gloves? Was cum running down his bare and broken knuckles?

His voice breaks, and he has to clear his throat to answer. "Ghost?

"Fuckin' - " Ghost swears, and things jostle and crack like something's fallen. "The 'ell are you doin' on this channel?"

"It's the same channel we've been on," Gaz points out. His heart races, and he knows, knows, he's playing with fire, but he can't help but ask, "You, uh, you need help over there?"

He'd think Ghost had gone dark if he couldn't hear him still panting like he'd run a marathon. But eventually, he says - growls really - "You wanna 'elp me, Pretty Boy?"

Kyle's whole body goes hot and cold and hot again. He'd be lying if he said that getting a nickname from Ghost hadn't been the highlight of his year, that he'd imagined it being whispered in his ear, just like this. He licks his lips, opens his mouth -

Made with beads and colorful string, it looks like the handiwork of a proud eight year old, all fun shapes with odd spacing and loving embellishments.

"Didn't know ghost had a kid." Johnny whispers to gaz, eyeing the bracelet from across the room "he ever mention it to you?"

"Hell no. An' he's not stupid enough to wear something like that on base," gaz scrunches his nose. He doesn't keep any identifying items of his boyfriend on base, best to keep personal life as closed as possible. Everyone knows what happened with price's spouse. "Maybe it's a...test? To see if anyone tries anything?"

Soap makes a non-commital noise, unsatisfied with the answer.

The thing is...ghost doesn't stop wearing the bracelet after that day.

It stays on his wrist every moment, only coming off to he tucked into the pocket of his tac-vest closest to his heart on missions. By now it's dirtied and missing a few beads, but he stubbornly keeps it close. Sometimes an additional, newer bracelet joins the old, but it doesn't stay around.

There's theories and betting pools over what the hell the bracelet means. It's so shocking on ghost with his...usual outfits, that theres bound to be gossip.

Secret child, dead family member, a simple test.

The truth?

You, ghosts roomate, practically held him at gunpoint to make friendship bracelets with you after he accidentally spilled bleach in the laundry hamper.

It's the Whittier bracelet he's ever seen, his skills aren't made for that sort of stuff, but...he keeps it. You're the closest thing he has to family.

Not that he'd ever tell you that, hiding the bracelet the second he's back in the apartment.