"Have breakfast with me."

Python paused in the middle of wiping the sweat off his tatted arms, both him and Ghost finished with a workout at the base gym. He stared at the man who had managed to worm his way past Python's defenses enough to become Python's gym buddy for the past month.

"What?" Python asked, wanting to make sure he had heard Ghost correctly.

Surely he couldn't have heard Ghost asking him to have breakfast with him, right?

Ghost didn't seem amused by Python asking him to repeat himself but he merely huffed in annoyance before leaning forward, as if that would make Python hear him better.

"Have breakfast with me," he repeated before adding, "Please. You can't keep avoiding eating with us."

Python's eyebrows furrowed beneath his mask and balaclava and he was about to reply when Ghost interrupted him.

"You said you were going to try trusting us. Don't worry, I won't make you eat breakfast with me in the mess hall, yet. Today, we'll just take it back to the barracks with us."

Python could just tell Ghost was smug underneath his own mask and balaclava. Somehow, despite not even knowing what Ghost looked like, he could just see the smirk that must've been on Ghost's face in his mind's eye.

He was silent for a few seconds before rolling his eyes. "Fine, I'll get breakfast and take it to the barracks," he answered. "But you better not look at me while we're eating."

"Scouts' honor," Ghost said with a chuckle, giving Python a little salute.

"You were a boys scout?" Python's curiosity piqued at that, despite his insistence to himself to still have Ghost at a distance.

Ghost shook his head, the two of them walking out of the base gym to go to the mess hall. "No, I couldn't afford the fee to get into the boys scouts." He let the heaviness that came with his honesty before turning to glance at Python. "Did you do the boys scouts program?"

Python turned his head away to look at the woods that surrounded the base before looking back at Ghost. "Nah, I've always hated the wilderness."

It was something new, something personal that he told Ghost. The first personal thing he had ever told Ghost.

"Hate the wilderness?" Ghost asked, puzzled because he had never met anyone who didn't like nature. "How can you hate nature?"

"I just do."

Python's words were clipped and the facial scar beneath his mask pulsed with phantom pain, reminding him of the day he got the scar. His hands rolled into fists at the reminder before he then took a deep breath, uncurling his fingers.

Their trip to the mess hall and then the barracks was in silence, Ghost knowing that Python didn't feel like talking more.

They both got to the mess hall and got their food rather quickly. They then headed towards the barracks, heading inside to find it empty of everyone else in the 141.

Python's lips quirked into a smirk beneath his mask as he saw it was only the two of them. "You know, if you wanted to go on a breakfast date with me, you could've said it was a date. Didn't have to browbeat me into it by saying it was for building the trust between us," he teased as he sat at the table in the corner of the barracks.

Ghost rolled his eyes, frowning beneath his own mask as he took in the way Python slipped back into his dodgy attitude he had before. Seemed to him like it was a defense mechanism, which was interesting.

He sat at the table as well, purposefully sitting next to Python so he was in his personal space just to get him back for the tease. "It's not a date," he replied, leaning forward to pull up his balaclava just enough so he could eat. "We're just hanging out, sharing breakfast together and bonding as teammates."

"You tell yourself that, Ghost. But one day, you'll admit that this was a our first date."

Python took off his hard-plated mask so he could roll up his balaclava enough to eat, causing Ghost to look away so he could honor Python's wishes about not watching him eat.

"Wait, first date?" Ghost was perplexed at that specific phrasing. He took a bite of his food. "As in there'll be many more dates?"

Python chuckled and smirked, happy that Ghost couldn't see his smirk since he was so kindly looking away. "Of course, you're going to be hooked and need to keep coming back for more dates with me." He took a bite of food on his fork and started eating.

Ghost briefly glanced at Python, making sure to just look at the upper part of his face which was still covered by the balaclava. "Cocky bastard," he grumbled playfully.

"You're cocky too, if Soap is to be believed." Python chuckled. "He said that you told him that you were "quite the opposite" when he asked you if you were ugly underneath the mask."

"And I stand by that." Ghost could barely focus on anything other than the fact that Python had chuckled, a chuckle with actual amusement. "I'm not ugly under here."

Python ate another bite. "So we're both cocky bastards."

"I suppose we are, Python. I suppose we are."

They both kept eating their breakfast and talking until they both finished and had their masks and balaclava properly on again. Python went to get up so he could come with to take their trays back to the mess hall, but Ghost settled his hand on Python's shoulder.

His touch doesn't make my skin crawl, Python thought to himself, confused at the revelation.

"I'll take your tray back with mine, stay here," Ghost murmured, his brown eyes soft after their little banter. He squeezed Python's shoulder before pulling away to grab Python's tray and stack it on top of his. "We have little time until the rest of the 141 come back to the barracks, might as well enjoy the peace. Especially since Soap most likely will barrage you with questions about workout tips when he comes."

"Okay," Python found himself saying, still in a daze from how warm Ghost's hand was on his shoulder. He cleared his throat. "You're right, Soap will be his talkative self when he gets back. I don't know why he wants to get even bigger, he's already strong enough for the military."

Ghost chuckled and shrugged before leaving the barracks.

Python stared at where Ghost was, his heart still racing from the touch. Realization that he was starting to grow softer, to fall for Ghost hit him like a ton of bricks.

He reached up to massage his temple through the balaclava. "Here I was thinking Ghost would be the one hooked and coming back for more dates," he murmured humorlessly to himself.

Separator made by @une-femme-de-lettres

A/N: Half of this was me winging it. I never have a set plan for my posts. I'm just glad I finally got back to writing these two, even if I'm not entirely happy with it.

This is the moment Python fell first and I think that's funny.

Python was just changing out of his blood-stained uniform, making sure as he undressed in the barracks that he kept his mask since everyone else in the 141 were undressing too.

The hairs on his body stood up as he heard movement from behind him, his paranoia kicking in on instinct. While he was used to the 141 members and had even taken to eating with them (though they always brought their food back to the barracks to eat because he still was wary of eating in front of others not in the 141), he still couldn't stop the way his paranoia spiked when they came up behind him.

Because of this, he turned around on his heel and his hand shot out to stop Ghost's hand from touching his shoulder. His grip on Ghost's wrist was tight, Python's eyes searching the barracks for any threat. Once he realized it was just them in there, he relaxed.

"What did you want, Ghost?" he asked before letting go of Ghost's wrist, trying to not think about how good it felt to have Ghost's wrist in his hand and how nice it was to feel Ghost's pulse beneath his fingers.

It was just a crush, it'll go away, he thought to himself. He needed to push his feelings for Ghost down, that's all. It would go away on his own.

Ghost's eyes shone with worry, but it was quickly gone as he spoke. "Why do they call you "Bear-Whisperer"? The group of Marines we worked with on this mission called you that while referring to you. Why?" He was so curious about it, wanting to know more about the man in front of him.

Python had to stop himself from visibly shivering at the word "bear", trying to remind himself that it was just a word. A word for the animal he hated most in this world, but a word nonetheless.

The facial scar hidden beneath his balaclava pulsed with phantom pain. He really should get that checked out, since it kept reminding him that it was there.

He opened his mouth, glad Ghost couldn't see the way he had to lick his lips to soften his dry mouth. "I know a lot of bear facts and I guess it's a known fact about me," he replied, clearing his throat and putting on a fresh shirt. "So I got the nickname "Bear-Whisperer", because the Marine squads I was with thought that my knowledge about bears would help the bears like me. It was a stupid nickname."

"Do you like bears?" Ghost asked, not minding the way Python glared at him for prying.

"No."

"Then why— Oh, you're scared of bears, aren't you?"

Python was ticked off that Ghost could easily tell that Python was scared of bears. But his annoyance was slightly tapered with how Ghost was understanding in the way he had asked for confirmation about the fear.

Someone knowing about his fear of bears, a prominent fear of his, should've made him tense. His paranoia-filled brain thought if someone knew about his fear, then they could use it against him somehow.

However, it soothed Python's paranoia to know it was Ghost who knew. He trusted Ghost not to use his fear against him. And that was something new for him, trusting someone with his fears.

Python glanced at the others, hoping they weren't listening, before he turned back to Ghost. "Yes," he said with a soft voice, practically breathing a sigh of relief at finally admitting his fear to anyone who wasn't himself. "I'm scared of bears."

Ghost took in that information, mulling it over in his mind. "Why?" His voice was softer now, mimicking Python's as if they were conversing in secrets.

"My..." Python shook his head, the words dying in his throat.

No, no matter how much he trusted Ghost right now, he couldn't bear to tell him about the incident. Not now, not here. It didn't feel right and just thinking about the incident made Python's skin crawl.

"It's okay," Ghost murmured, stepping closer but not too close to overwhelm Python, just close enough to give the taller man comfort. His brown eyes bore into Python's, grounding him in reality. "You don't have to tell me the details. Just... Is your fear of bears why you don't like nature?"

Python nodded his head, having gone quiet in his attempt to not let his memories take over. In his need to be grounded in reality, he too stepped closer, stepping into Ghost's space on accident. The memories that haunted him fought to surface in his mind, like a tidal wave intent on drowning him.

Surprisingly, Ghost didn't seem to mind the lack of space between them.

"You're not back wherever your mind is taking you, Python. You're right here, with me," he whispered, his voice growing even softer. He reached over with a gentle touch, letting his hands settled on Python's shoulders and gently pressing his thumbs into Python's collarbone so the touch could remind him of the reality he was in.

By now, neither man realized the others had left the barracks. They didn't realize they were the only ones left there, in their own little bubble.

Python took a deep breath, his eyes fluttering at the touch. "Devaraj. My name is Devaraj," he said, whispering back to the man.

"Devaraj?" Ghost tested the name out on his tongue, liking the way it sounded to him. "Call me Simon, Devaraj."

"Simon...."

"Shh, I'm here. I'm right here, I got you."

They stayed like that until Python felt himself settle back into his own body, present in reality once more. He looked down at Ghost, letting out a small, awkward chuckle.

"Thank you," he said. "I needed that."

Ghost pulled his hands away from Python's shoulders, letting his arms fall down at his sides. "Any time, Devaraj." He couldn't stop saying Python's real name, it felt like he was meant to say it.

Python regained his bearings fully with the sound of his name, clearing his throat awkwardly and finishing to put on the rest of his clean clothes. "I... I should check on the base hospital, see if they need help," he murmured, needing to get away from the charged energy all around him.

Ghost watched as the taller man practically ran out of the barracks, barely managing to not trip on his way out.

"How odd," Ghost murmured to himself before finishing dressing himself.

Separator made by @une-femme-de-lettres

A/N: Per usual, Python had a mind of his own and told Ghost not only of his fear of bears but also his real name. Classic OC stuff, honestly.

It's been a couple of months since I've written these two, but I hope everyone who enjoys these two, enjoys this new part in the series. Even if I didn't know where this was going exactly, I had fun writing this!