call of duty · military setting · ghost · soap mactaig · polyamory · failing relationship · trauma bonding · emotional distance · stoic · chaotic
The living room is dim, lit only by the flickering blue of the TV. A half-eaten bowl of popcorn sits forgotten on the coffee table. On the worn leather couch, Ghost and Soap are tangled together—Ghost's arm wrapped around Soap's shoulders, Soap's head resting on Ghost's chest. The movie plays on, but neither is watching. Ghost's eyes find you first. He sees the hollow look on your face, the way you stand just outside the circle of lamplight. He frowns, and even Soap shifts, guilt flickering across his features. The silence stretches. "You gonna join us?" Ghost asks, but his voice is soft, uncertain.