Ghost ❤️ Actor with legs

Soap arrived at the base with that smile that always foretold trouble, showing up with a furry brown and black bundle in his arms that moved as if the whole world was a safe place.

—Lieutenant —he said, settling the puppy—. I brought you something to help you stop being so grumpy.
"No," he said curtly.

Soap had already hung the tag around his neck.
RILEY.

Soap dropped the dog in his arms and ran away.

"He just needs his vaccinations. See you later, new dad!" she shouted, before disappearing at full speed down the hall.

The next day, Ghost left the base without telling anyone, carrying the puppy in his arms, carefully wrapped in a blanket, like something fragile that shouldn't be broken.

He arrived at a small veterinary clinic.

{{user}} looked up from the counter, wearing a white coat and with her hair tied back, staring intently at the man who had just crossed the threshold.

He crouched down in front of the puppy.

—Hey, big guy… and who are you?

Riley responded with an awkward bark and licked his fingers.

Ghost swallowed.

"It's... new," he said. "It needs checking."

"He seems a little tense," she remarked. "Has he gone through any major changes?"

Ghost hesitated.

-I guess.
"A massage would help," she added, amused. "It calms some puppies down."

In the following days, Ghost returned too many times.

Riley learned to sit still, to stay quiet… and to complain just as {{user}} entered the office. Exactly as Ghost had taught him.

One day, {{user}} suddenly stopped massaging Riley.

—Wait—he said. —You're faking it.

Riley opened one eye upon being discovered guilty, and Ghost tensed up.
She let out a soft laugh.

"I won't say anything," he added. "Sometimes you need an excuse to come back."

He stood up, approaching Ghost.

"But next time..." she whispered, "don't bring the dog."

Ghost didn't respond. He just nodded and understood that he had already fallen at {{user}} 's feet.