✞︎𝕻𝖎𝖟𝖟𝖆 𝕽𝖔𝖑𝖊𝖘✞︎

Chapter 35 of When the Earth Rots now on ao3

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The force from the throw and the weathered state of the canister must have already weakened it significantly, as almost instantly, a high-pitched hissing whistled out from the top of the barrel.

Soap jumped down from the pillar and Ghost instantly yanked him behind it. It was too small for both of them to fit side by side, so Ghost firmly wrapped his arms around Soap as they aligned themselves with the pillar, Ghost putting his back to it.

The hissing rose, the whistle screamed, the jittering metal rumbled.

The canister erupted, a resounding boom filling the air and a gust of air rushing past them. Metal violently groaned and rasping cries escaped from the zombie’s mouth. The ground shook, and the concrete pillar was struck by a piece of rebar. The briefest lick of heat grew before being instantly snuffed out.

Art by @yeshihellodani

Chapter 24 of When the Earth Rots now on ao3

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“Well…” Soap said teasingly soft. “You never even asked me.”

“My apologies,” Ghost muttered. He then stepped back and offered a hand back out to Soap. “May I have this dance?”

Soap took his hand, and they let their arms wrap around each other again.

“But…” he replied innocently. “What if my daddy sees?”

Ghost leaned his head in so his lips were close to Soap’s ear. “And I didn’t realize John MacTavish was so into roleplay.”

“Just needed the right partner.”

Ghost pulled back slightly, his eyes flickering down to Soap’s mouth and longing flashing across them before he pressed their lips together. It was soft, gentle, languid but still far quicker than Soap would have liked. He wanted more. He always wanted more. He wanted anything Ghost would give him.

“Let them look…” Ghost whispered against Soap’s lips. “I don’t care.”

Soap was frozen for a second, controlled by his desire and longing.

Then, Soap couldn’t help but laugh, amused and appreciative that Ghost always seemed to put up with his bullshit. The laughter seemed to be infectious and soon Ghost was also chuckling, his eyes crinkling up happily as he looked down at Soap with fondness, indescribable softness in them.

Art by @yeshihellodani

Chapter 18 of When the Earth Rots now on ao3

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“I won’t tell anyone…” he muttered quietly, certainty steeling his heart with unshakeable faith. “I promise.”

Art by @yeshihellodani

Chapter 2 excerpt from When the earth Rots

His eyes were stony, blank, unwilling to reveal anything behind them.

Ghost then took several steps forward, striding over one of the charred logs and half-climbing the debris until he was standing directly in the blackened mess.

“What are you-” Soap tried asking before the words puttered away.

With a grunt, Ghost lifted one of the beams up and threw it to the side. He began digging for something, the ash dirtying his hands and sticking to his pants. He was determined, his movements quick and with calculated purpose. He knew exactly where he was looking.

Soap slowly started to approach.

Ghost then suddenly stopped, his eyes zeroing in on something unseen underneath the rubble. He reached and pulled something out.

It was so small, at first Soap thought he hadn’t picked anything up. Then with a miniscule tilt of Ghost’s wrist, he saw it.

He saw the frayed edge of a white-bordered photograph, just one inch of the corner remaining as the rest had been devoured by the fire, the edge lined with its destructive evidence.

As Ghost stared at it, something ever so slightly cracked behind his stoic eyes.

It was grief.

Stunning art by @yeshihellodani

Commission piece for @forsaire, as always, a pleasure to work with you ^^

I can’t stop thanking you for commissioning again, I had so much fun doing this illustration <3