I love when there's a buffer between big and small. With Ghost especially
There's already the divide of Simon and Ghost. Between the man and the mask he dons. And to add something small and fragile into that?
Simon refers to it--himself regressing--as something else entirely.
His tone shifts throughout whatever face he wears; Ghost is gruff, barely any funny business. Simon speaks firmly, although the cracks in his exterior expose the soft insides. And himself regressed feels exactly like that raw wound beneath it all, quiet and timid.
It's not him, it's the sad, weepy thing underneath his covered layers. Ghost, Simon and it, below all that. He doesn't name the feeling, or let it sneak out of the shell he's made for it.
There's that internal fight with himself to let the small feeling seep out. Behind a numb exterior, there's a racing heart and bubbling anxiety. His eyes jumping from place to place, lips moving where words should be coming out, but it's all a hidden conversation in his head.
It all ends up in the same place anyway. Regardless of the answer, he regresses anyway. Lands himself into Price's office, or behind a locked door where he won't be disturbed.
None of it is pretty. An infected wound rarely is. His eyes don't see when he looks around, trapped behind a haze he can't blink away. Not seeing black, but a frosted glaze of his own hands tugging at his own clothes, or picking at the skin around his nails until red splotches become apparent. The sound of crying doesn't make it to his ears, but the warmth on his cheeks of hot tears makes itself noticeable.
Simon doesn't want to call this him.
There's no control, just blurry memories later. His own fists rubbing against his cheeks, wiping away constantly falling tears. The eventual calming feeling of a heartbeat against one of his ears. It all happens, and he has no say. The pot boils over and the contents spill through the tears of a child who can't control the fear and rage in a body far too big for it's mind.
So Simon doesn't place the feelings. He only grasps for control hiding the tears, and barely succeeds whatsoever at any given moment. There's moments of brief relief where his eyes clear to the sight of a gentle hand coming to wipe his face, or he hears the familiar sound of his teammate voice(s).
Wherever he is, whatever that feeling is, wherever that childish terror resides in him, it's safe. It's taken care of. Through a screen on late nights with Price's (Or Soap's, or Gaz's) messages open with a selection of emojis newly delivered and marked as read within an instant, or with his head on one of their chests--It's safe.
Between Ghost and Simon, it's safe.
In his teammates company, it's safe.
Held, warm, fed and comforted. It doesn't get hurt any further, as much as it fusses and cries.
As much as he feels the lingering touch of hands he cannot name, no one's touch sears his delicate skin when they lift him from the floor and wipe his eyes. The gentle kisses on his forehead only stay there.
Here, it's safe to be small and fragile. It's safe for that wounded piece to be a part of him.
And, here, it's safe to remember. His tears won't be met with violence, no matter the blood on his hands or his friends'.
It's safe to be. For as many months as it takes for him, that won't change.