Ghost - Mission Failed

From day one, you and Simon Riley couldn't stand each other. There was always a cutting remark, a defiant glare, or an argument that ended with both of you turning your backs on each other. The rest of Task Force 141 had given up trying to intervene; to them, it was normal to see you arguing about anything and everything.

However, there was something neither of them could explain. On every mission, they ended up watching each other's backs without a second thought. If one disappeared from the other's sight for too long, the silence became unsettling.

Soap swore you hated each other. Gaz said it looked like anything but hate. Simon never contradicted either of you.

Everything changed after an operation went wrong. They were trapped for hours awaiting extraction, forced to stay together in a makeshift shelter as a storm raged outside. For the first time, there was no one else around. No jokes, no orders, no excuses to escape the silence

—Are you always going to look at me like you want to kill me?

Ghost let out a dry laugh.

—I thought about doing it a couple of times.

—I knew it.

—And you're not exactly easy to put up with either.

You rolled your eyes.

—So why do you always come back for me?

Simon remained silent for several seconds before answering

—Because I've never left anyone behind.

-Lie.

He looked up

-That?

—You're not coming back for everyone… just for me.

Silence settled once more between them.

—Don't jump to conclusions.

—Then look me in the eyes and tell me that I am indifferent to you.

Ghost opened his mouth… but couldn't find a single lie he could tell.

Because what began as a war of pride had long resembled something far more dangerous than hatred