Simon Riley has a crush (part 2)
Part 1
เญจเญงโ โโโโ โ โโโโ เญจเญงโ โโโโ โ โโโโ เญจเญง โ โโโโ โ โโโโ เญจเญง
The records room was always quiet.
That was one of the reasons you liked it.
Rows of metal shelving lined the walls, each one filled with neatly labeled folders and sealed document boxes. Fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead, and the only real sounds were the rustle of paper and the occasional turning of pages.
Youโd been here long enough to memorize where most things were.
Which was exactly why Laswell asking you to grab a specific archived mission report hadnโt seemed like a big deal.
โTop shelf, back row,โ sheโd said casually over the phone. โOld operation file. Should be labeled Operation Glass Harbor.โ
So here you wereโฆ
Standing on a small step ladder.
Stretching your arm as far as it would go toward the very back of the highest shelf.
โโฆalmostโฆโ you mutter, reaching..
Your fingers brushed the edge of the box.
You leaned just a little further.
The box tipped.
And thenโ
A large gloved hand reached up beside you and caught it before it could fall.
You nearly jumped off the ladder.
When you looked downโ
You were staring at a skull mask.
Your heart jumped into your throat.
Ghost.
Lieutenant Simon Riley stood there holding the file box like it weighed nothing.
He froze too.
Because this was the first time either of you had been this close.
โโฆSorry,โ you said quickly, climbing down the ladder a little too fast. โI didnโt see you there.โ
Ghost immediately stepped back like heโd just realized heโd accidentally walked into a minefield.
โWasโฆ uhโโ
His voice sounded rougher than usual.
โWas lookinโ for Laswell.โ
You nodded quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Nervous habit.
โOhโ sheโs probably still in the briefing room.โ
Silence settled between you.
The kind that wasnโt uncomfortable yet.
Justโฆ unsure.
Ghost was still holding the file box.
He stared at it like it had personally betrayed him.
โโฆThink thisโs yours,โ he said, holding it out.
You reached for it.
Your fingers brushed the glove covering his hand.
And both of you paused for half a second.
โThank you,โ you said softly.
He nodded once.
Then neither of you moved.
Which is when the door behind you clicked shut.
Neither of you noticed.
Down the hallโ
Soap and Gaz crouched beside the door like two grown men about to rob the cookie jar.
Soap slowly checked the small wedge heโd shoved under the door handle.
Gaz was trying not to laugh.
โYouโre a menace,โ Gaz whispered.
Soap grinned.
โA romantic menace.โ
He twisted the handle slightly from the outside.
Locked.
Perfect.
Inside the records roomโ
You were flipping open the file after putting the box away, scanning the label just to double check.
Ghost shifted his weight.
And then he heard the door.
Or ratherโ
He heard the lack of it opening when he reached for the handle.
It didnโt budge.
Ghost tried again.
Still nothing.
โโฆDoorโs locked.โ
You looked up.
โOh.โ
You walked over and tried it too.
Still locked.
โโฆHuh.โ
Ghost blinked slowly behind the mask.
That was suspiciously calm.
โYโnot concerned?โ
You tilted your head thoughtfully.
โNot really.โ
He stared at you.
You gave a small shrug.
โThey lock it sometimes if thereโs a security sweep.โ
Ghost didnโt say anything.
Because he knew exactly who was behind this.
Soap.
You set the file down on the nearby table.
โWellโฆ I guess we wait?โ
Ghost leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
The silence returned.
You glanced at him.
He glanced at the floor.
You both spoke at the same time.
โSorryโโ
โSorry.โ
You both stopped.
Then you laughed, soft but genuine.
Ghost froze.
Because heโd heard you laugh before in the hallway.
But never this close.
โโฆYou go first,โ you said.
Ghost cleared his throat awkwardly.
โโฆJustโฆ uhโฆโ
He shifted again.
โโฆDonโt think weโve properly met.โ
Your smile softened.
โOh.โ
Right.
You held your hand out gently.
โIโm Y/N.โ
Ghost stared at your hand for a second like it might explode.
Then he carefully took it.
His glove swallowed your hand completely.
โSimon.โ
You blinked.
Your smile got a little brighter.
โSimon.โ
He immediately looked away.
Because hearing you say his name feltโฆ weirdly nice.
You sat down at the table beside the open file.
โYou work with Captain Priceโs team, 141 right?โ
He nodded.
โYeah.โ
You leaned forward slightly, resting your chin on your hand.
โThat must be intense.โ
Ghost shrugged.
โSometimes.โ
You studied him for a moment.
He looked like a walking threat.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Skull mask. Tactical gear.
But the way he was standingโ
Awkwardly shifting his weight.
Avoiding eye contact.
โit didnโt match the terrifying reputation at all.
โYouโre quieter than the others,โ you said gently.
He huffed softly.
โSoap talks enough for the whole team.โ
You laughed again.
A comfortable quiet settled in after that.
You flipped through the file lazily.
โโฆDo you like coffee?โ you asked suddenly.
Ghost blinked.
โโฆYeah?โ
Your smile turned a little shy.
โOh good.โ
You tapped the table lightly.
โI wasnโt sure.โ
He frowned slightly.
โWhy?โ
You hesitated.
Then admitted softlyโ
โI leave coffee outside your office sometimes.โ
Ghost went completely still.
He remembered the others telling him that, but he didnโt entirely believe it was true.
โโฆThatโs you?โ
You nodded.
โI thought maybe you were too busy to grab some before briefings. And if you didnโt like coffee.. I was gonna start bringing tea instead...โ
Ghost looked genuinely stunned.
โโฆBeen drinkinโ those for months.โ
You looked delighted.
โReally?โ
He nodded slowly.
โโฆBest coffee on base.โ
You tried not to smile too big at that.
The room grew quiet again.
But this time it wasnโt awkward.
Just warm.
Ghost glanced at you.
You were still flipping through the folder, humming softly to yourself.
Not intimidated.
Not nervous.
Justโฆ comfortable.
With him.
After a moment you looked up.
โโฆSimon?โ
โYeah.โ
You tilted your head.
โWhy do you always stop talking when I walk by the briefing room?โ
Ghost froze.
Because apparently Soap had been talking.
โโฆDo I?โ
You nodded, amused.
โEvery time.โ
He stared at the table.
โโฆDidnโt notice.โ
You watched him for a moment.
Then smiled softly.
โWellโฆ Iโm glad we got stuck in here then.โ
Ghost looked at you again.
โโฆYeah?โ
You nodded.
โYeah.โ
Outside the doorโ
Soap pressed his ear to it.
Gaz leaned against the wall beside him.
โโฆHear anything?โ Gaz whispered.
Soap grinned.
โโฆSilence.โ
Gaz raised an eyebrow.
โIs that good or bad?โ
Soap looked extremely pleased with himself.
โOh, mate.โ
He leaned back from the door.
โThatโs the sound of two shy people having the most awkwardly adorable conversation of their lives.โ
Down the hallโ
Price walked past and saw them crouched by the door.
Shook his head.
โโฆIdiots.โ
Laswell didnโt even look up from her tablet as she followed behind him.
โGive them another twenty minutes.โ
Back in the records roomโ
You and Simon were now sitting across from each other.
Talking.
Actually talking.
Neither of you had noticed the time passing.
Neither of you had noticed the door was unlocked 10 minutes ago.
And neither of you were in any rush to leave.















