As of recently, Kody found that the gym worked better for him later at night. Perhaps it was the quiet of it all, no music threatening to burst through his headphones or burning, prying eyes of new recruits and possible criticisms of the rest of the task force. Or, heaven forbid, team exercises.
The American found as well, that the rhythmic beating of his bandaged hands upon the sand in the punching bag, brought a sense of tranquility to him that nothing else really beat. As far as he knew, at least. Fluorescent lights dimmed above him, humming steadily as he focused, shoulders and muscles tensing with every move.
Like a working dog, this was what he lived for. The pounding of his heart in his ears, the rushing of blood throughout his body, the sweat sticking to his back and drenching his shirt, the ache radiating through his body when he knew he’d won.
They called him Wrath for a reason, after all.
He focused on that, every movement and collision of his fist with the bag, the sand jostling inside it and quickly each stress of the day fell away.
The most recent mission, gunfire hailing around him as Aslov ushered him back to the helo.
His ass being saved once again.
Wasn’t fucking fair.
He was more than capable enough to handle himself, he didn’t need his big sibling swooping in to save him every time. How was he supposed perform, to be the better one, woefully prepared and teeth bared like always, if he had someone watching over him like a fucking hawk, always ready to save the day. To save him.
It was stupid, unnecessary and humiliating.
In front of the team, of his lieutenant, nevermind Captain Price; where he needed to prove himself.
Frustration built, dropping like grains of sand in an hourglass.
Drop.
‘Stupid little girl, needs defending from everyone else, has to run to mommy or daddy to protect her. Huh? Just, go on and cry wolf at this point Pierce, fuckin’ pathetic.’
Drop.
‘Have to train away from everyone else cause you can’t handle the real world. It’s a wonder you even made sergeant.’
Drop.
R-i-i-ip!
Sand spilled out over the tile floor of the gym, bunching up at Kody’s boots.
A vicious breath of air exiting his lungs, Kody looked up, following the cascade of grain and rock.
He’d ripped the punching bag.
Hm.
Rearing an fist back, he delivered one last punch to the bag, rage boiling up to his bunched fingertips.
Slam.
Pain exploded in Kody’s hand, bursting out from his knuckles and extending like roots down his palm and arm.
The bag swung harshly on its hook, creaking with the force and weight, more sand spilling onto the floor now.
“Fuck!” he shouted, shaking his injured hand in the air as if the movement would calm the burning flames of agony within his hand.
“Brilliant, Pierce,” he muttered, teeth gritted closely together. “Fucked up your hand, broke the bag, made a fool of yourself–”
Kody shook his head, reaching up to rub at his eyes with his uninjured hand. Christ. Now he’d have to clean this all up, figure out if he’d broken anything, get that fixed, and explain it all in the morning.
Or maybe it was morning already.
Fuck, he didn’t know.
“Everything alright in here?”
Practically jumping out of his skin, Kody whirled around, dark eyes snapping to the doorway where little light from the hallway filtered in, blocked by a taller, wider shape.
Shit.
Eyes widening momentarily, Kody stepped to the side, a shit attempt to use his body to block the view of the leaking sandbag.
“All good,” he answered, the words falling out of his mouth quickly, dropping like grains of sand upon the floor. Possibly too quickly. The hourglass was beginning to fill.
Equally dark eyes, only obscured by blond hair this time, squinted back at Kody, narrowed as they flicked from the miniature beach at his feet and up to Kody’s urgent eyes.
“You sure?”
Teeth gnawed at his lip, pulling at the undamaged flesh. Shit shit shit. Welp, he better start writing home, or his eulogy. Both the same, relatively.
“Pierce?”
Averted eyes slowly traveled up, locking with the pair across the room. “Went a bit too hard training.”
Ghost gave a hum, the sound reverberating through his chest and the room, reaching Kody’s flushed ears with ease. “I see that,” came the blunt answer, his arms folding over his chest as he began to cross the room with easy strides. Was everything this easy to Ghost?
A hand pressed upon his shoulder, moving Kody to the side. For someone so… giant, who could hold and crush the entire world in his palm, Ghost was… gentle. Far more gentle than Kody had remembered or anticipated.
Crouching down, Ghost inspected the punching bag, fingers moving along the seam and watching as the remnants of sand trickled out of the rip and over his arm.
Great, now Ghost knew he broke team equipment and he’d gotten him dirty. There’d be sand in his loungewear for weeks, wouldn’t there? And it would be Kody’s fault.
Why did he care?
The turmoil in his stomach caused his brows to furrow, the heat from his embarrassment charging to frustration and confusion once more.
“It’s old anyway,” the other man finally spoke, breaking through the silence and somehow piercing Kody’s echoing thoughts. “Been due for a replacement. Now Price has to harass HQ for it.” Then he shrugged. “He needs to for a few other things anyway.”
Kody blinked.
Ghost didn’t… care?
The hand clapped back onto his shoulder again. “Must’ve been going hard then, aye?”
Kody nodded, slowly, like a stutter creeping back into his speech.
Ghost didn’t need any more words from Kody as the hand on his shoulder tightened and suddenly they were walking towards the exit, well, one of the exits, bringing them out to a small opening on base, enough to see the landing pads, hangars, and sky above.
The sky, which was transforming from deep hues of royal blue and purple into vivid orange and light pink.
Ah.
It was morning.
Lovely.
Kody had tensed, waiting for Ghost to say something, like the question he was dreading.
‘“Something going on?’”
And he waited.
And waited, breath held tightly in his lungs.
He did not have to hold his breath for long.
“Look at the sky,” Ghost pointed out, voice quieter than before. “Take in the air – all pollution and shit, if you will. But better than the stale shit inside, isn’t it?”
Kody swallowed, nodding lightly again, gaze flicking from Ghost’s almost soft appearance before back to the awakening sky.
The tension slowly exited his body as the orange spread further across the sky, expanding with his lungs.
Quiet.
It was quiet.
“Fuck I-” Kody stammered, shaking his head, reaching into his back pocket. “I need a smoke.”
Ghost raised a brow, looking back down at Kody, the hand on his shoulder sliding down to rest on the small of his back – which of course Kody had no notice of.
Kody muttered to himself, fumbling in the dim light of dawn to retrieve his cigarettes from his pockets and lighter. After a minute or two of struggle, he’d gotten it and breathed in the nicotine like a breath of fresh air.
To him, much fresher than anything else.
Silence held them for a while, and the two stood, watching as the sun began to rise, casting its glow over the lampposts, parked humvees and scattered buildings.
A new day.
Kody couldn’t quite believe he found that refreshing. How fucking cheesy.
But something about it, the presence beside him, eyes lingering on his still form, fanned the embers in the soldier’s mind.
Similar embers reached towards his lips.
“You know, that shit is gonna kill you.”
Kody huffed, a ghost of a laugh exiting his lips with a cloud of smoke.
Since when did Ghost really care? Perhaps he didn’t, but the idea of it drew a smile across his face.
Taking in his final drag, he leaned towards Ghost before exhaling, the smoke unfurling from his lips and drifting towards Ghost’s face before wafting away into the air, higher and higher.
And sure the Brit coughed, trying to wave away the smoke with a gloved hand. But a mirror reflected back to Kody, an amused smile amongst scars and dark eyes.
“Well, now you’re gonna die too.”
—
i haven’t posted a fic like this in forever . but you inspired me, however i don’t have any origin things drafted yet, so this is what we got
and yes this entire thing is based around waterparks lyrics
