#2022 ghost

[sleepyaeonss]

09 v 22

Otherwise known as Simon Riley vs a happy ending

Speedpaint vvvv

[kingdom-of-the-damned]

Ever since I played the MW2 remaster, I can't get the idea of an AU where Ghost from the OG MW2 reincarnates into Ghost from the remaster with his memories intact, out of my head

Like after Shepard kills both him and Roach. Ghost wakes up in the barracks like nothing happened. But then small differences start appearing. He has his own room, so he knows he's still a lieutenant. But his balaclava is completely different. The room is definitely NOT how he left it. And when he finally leaves the room. He realizes the biggest thing is that his captain... is now his sergeant.

When he runs into Soap for the first time after waking up, he's mostly the same scot, but when Ghost actually takes him in, he realizes three things.

1) Ghost is now the taller of the two by a fair margin, not that his soap was much taller than him, but the difference now is palpable to his hyperaware senses

2) Where his soap was Captain of the 141 alongside Price. This version of him is now a sergeant. Working directly under himself.

3) Their relationship is VASTLY different in this timeline. His captain was so staunchly against fraternization and preferred to leave Ghost in a state of perpetual longing. This soap seems to have no such hang-ups, practically hurling himself into Ghost's arms the second he rounds the corner and sees him up and about.

It takes Ghost a few days to adjust. The memories mix and confuse him until he finally can't stand it, and he tells Soap everything. Everything about his soap, the shit with Shepard, hell he even talks about Roach even though he suspects the man never enlisted in this life since Soap doesn't seem to recognize the name. He thinks that Soap will find the whole thing crazy. His captain certainly would, but Soap just helps him take the whole thing to Price. Requesting paid leave for the both of them in the process. Given the situation, Price approves it, and while they both stay on base for the duration. It's a hell of a lot better than rushing into active duty in Ghosts state.

Soap is an absolute Gem. He's so patient while Ghost figures out what's going on in his head. And Ghost finds that both the feelings he had for his captain and the feelings of this timelines Ghost for the sergeant aren't all that different after all. He still feels everything that 2022 Ghost does. Swears they share the same headspace. And while they both find it a little weird. They're still the same person, regardless of timelines.

It all culminates one night when Soap has his head in Ghost's lap, and they're just resting when Ghost says it. A small I love you that to anyone else would be so very run of the mill and mundane but to Soap it means the fucking world to have Ghost let him in like he has.

It still takes them a few weeks to really figure out how to go about a relationship in the military, but they take it slow, and Johnny is an absolute aint like he always is. Ghost just falls for him more and more every day.

Eventually, the duality of both Ghosts fades into one as 2009 Ghost comes to terms with all of the shit that happened to him, and 2022 Ghost comes back to his own life. And Johnny is just along for the ride.