Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x GN!reader
God, how did I do these again? ANYWAY, been one hell of a year since I last posted. Had a COD cosplayer cheat on me, moved back home and realised I am in some way trans masc. Wild, wild year but I’m still here :D Todays piece is inspired by ‘Say you won’t let go’ by James Arthur. I’m considering rewriting all of my previous works and revamping my page, as always, asks are open.
I do not consent to my work being used for AI in anyway.
Simon Riley was a harsh bastard of a man, quiet and calculating with a stern personality. He didn’t let anyone walk over him, he was in charge of his own life. He would quietly tease Johnny back when the Scotsman teased him for sleeping with so many random people, always up for a good laugh with his team.
He wasn’t quite sure how it happened. This wasn’t who he was, the sort of man that he had ever been, and yet he couldn’t take his eyes off of you. You were across the bar as the team celebrated after a mission, giggling and dancing along with Johnny. You were his teammate, someone he respected and treated as a friend and here he was ogling you.
He stayed leant against the bar next to John and Kyle, the two men making idle conversation as he watched you. He could feel his heart beating in his chest and for the first time you had made him speechless without even trying. It was like a switch had flipped.
He had never been for relationships, had never had one that lasted and always swore he would end up dying alone but as he stood there watching, admiring you and memorising every little detail he knew he was ready for marriage.
You were his teammate however. His friend. You knew his reputation with men and women alike, knew how he would give them one night and then disappear forever. You never seemed to treat him any differently though, always a little piece of sunshine. You knew of his double digit body count, in both ways, and still treated him like a person.
His thoughts drifted back to the mission from earlier that day, remembering the way your soft hands wiped blood from his cheek after his mask was half torn off. His own fingers slid under his mask, rubbing at his stubble the way you had and finding himself disappointed when it didn’t feel the same.
The song ended, shifting into a slightly slower tune and Johnny left your side. He wandered back over to Simon, Kyle and John, quickly sitting down and ordering himself a drink. John leant over, having noticed the way Simon was staring and elbowed him in the side.
Simon's eyes widened slightly and he nodded, his words caught in his throat. He pushed up from the bar, quickly flattening out his shirt and clearing his throat before striding over to you.
He leant down slightly, his heart pounding in his chest as that same sweet scent you always adorned washed over him. You could see the smile reaching his eyes, his cheeks pushing up slightly as the corners of his lips tilted up under the surgical mask. For a moment, you admired the flecks of gold in his eyes, catching the light and glittering as he stared at you.
“Mind if I step in for a bit, luvvie?” He mumbled. He could have kicked himself for mumbling but the way you were staring at him had him too distracted.
“Of course not,” you grinned up at him, giggling softly.
He could tell you were rather drunk now that he was closer, alcohol plaguing your breath and your steps unsteady. For a moment, he wondered how much you had had to drink, concerned for you before he was wrapped up in your spell again.
At this point, his cheeks were hurting from how much he had been smiling at you. His gaze was fixed on you as his hand absentmindedly placed itself on your hip, holding you close as you started to sway to the music. He worried about coming on too strong, making you uncomfortable until your hands came to rest on his waist, gently gripping his shirt.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so alive. Watching as you giggled and swayed with him, the way you clung onto him. It made him happy, truly and deeply happy. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to see you around base everyday.
Awkwardly, his free hand that had been in the pocket of his jacket came to the back of your head, tangling with your hair and pulling you closer to his chest. He held you close, memorising the way you fit against him in case you were to push him away and disappear. He never wanted to forget you.
It was then, as you pressed your face against his chest and hummed to the music that he knew, even if he never got you touch you again that you were the one for him. He was beaming, alight inside. He glanced to the others to find John, Kyle and Johnny watching with warm smiles. They each nodded, Johnny giving him a thumbs up.
”You look as beautiful as ever,” he murmured against your ear, his head dipping down slightly.
”Didn’t know you could think that about a person,” you responded with a teasing chuckle.
”Only you.” The words felt like a promise, like he was swearing himself to you.
As the song ended, he felt you pull away and was slightly saddened. His touch on you retreated, only to be met by your warm hand grabbing his. You tugged him through the crowd towards the bar and his hand in yours felt as though it was on fire.
You glanced back at him over your shoulder and he felt his heart stop. He felt sober again. He knew he was madly in love with you. He squeezed your hand gently, three little squeezes that you hardly even picked up on. He stuck close as you led him towards the bar, making sure no one pushed you or got too close.
He stood behind you as you ordered a drink, quietly nodding to the bartender to make it a virgin drink and put it on his tab as if he had done it a million times before. It felt so right to look after you and buy you things. His mind briefly wandered, drifting to all the gifts he could shower you with and imagining how you would decorate your house when he eventually bought you one.
You smiled up at him, leaning back against him and pressing a kiss to his cheek, quietly thanking him for the drink before downing it - eager to feel more of the buzz and confidence that the liquor would bring you despite it being non alcoholic.
He spent the rest of the evening by your side, ensuring you were safe and having fun. At some point, you had stolen his jacket, throwing it over your shoulders and drowning out your frame with it. Eventually, he walked you back to base, leaving Johnny, Kyle and John at the bar.
You wandered alongside him, babbling on about something and giggling to him. He could listen to you talk for hours. He was completely smitten, grinning as he watched the sleeves of his jacket hide away your hands. He loved the way you looked by his side, wearing his clothes.
Something had changed inside of him and he liked it. You had taken him from a heartless monster, from simply being Ghost to being himself again, Simon Riley. He knew he would love his last name if it were yours as well.
He walked you right to the door of your room, watching with his arms crossed as he leant against the wall while you fumbled through your pockets for your keys. He nodded slightly as you pulled them out and unlocked the door before sheepishly staring up at him.
”You wanna stay the night, Si?” You murmured, a soft blush coating your cheeks.
He knew his reputation with people and he knew he would not treat you like that. He shook his head. He wanted to love you, the chance to make you feel special, not experience a night of lust and move on. He would be your husband one day, he could wait.
“Not tonight, luvvie, you need some rest.” He smiled, his tone soft and gentle as he stared at you. “You gonna get to bed okay?”
His heart ached as he saw the disappointment that flashed across your face, all he wanted to do was tangle his limbs with yours and hold you all night but he wouldn’t not, not tonight. He was too busy planning dates and proposal ideas.
”Mhm.. should do,” You mumbled back to him, nodding slightly.
He watched as you started to strip his jacket off and shook his head again, planting it back around your shoulders and tugging it around you.
”Keep it, it’ll give you another reason to come see me tomorrow,” he insisted, tugging his mask down just enough to plant a kiss on your forehead before gently pushing you into your room and sauntering down the hallway to his own.
He chuckled, feeling the butterflies in his stomach, already eager to see you again and spend the rest of his life with you. When he got to his door, he reached for his keys only to realise they were still in his jacket with his phone… in your room. He laughed again, rubbing his face before sitting down in the doorway to his room.
By the time the others returned from the bar, he was half asleep and Johnny hauled him to his room, letting him crash there for the night and quickly regretting it when Simon couldn’t stop talking about you.
But me a coffee if you want :D
