Ghost x Male!OC
••Ghost nearly loses Evgeny.

"Nine, how copy?"

"The path ahead is clear, lieutenant." A familiar voice crackled in Ghost's ear as he pressed himself against the wall of a building. "I am greatly enjoying the view of your ass from up here."

Ghost could picture the grin Evgeny must have. "Stop ogling and put those eyes to proper use. I don't want to be ambushed because our sniper is distracted." He scoffed.

"It's not a distraction if I'm supposed to be watching you."

Ghost didn't bother to answer, a huff of annoyance escaping him. Arguing with Evgeny was pointless.

He checked the corner, then moved forward to the next bit of cover, his rifle gripped tightly in his gloved hands.

"Two enemies approaching on your right," came Evgeny's voice through the comms.

Ghost turned just in time to see a shot from Evgeny take down the first soldier. He lifted his rifle and gunned down the second one in a matter of seconds, already moving to another building. 

Ahead, there was an intersection where two larger streets met. Ghost would be too exposed if he tried to cross, but navigating the surrounding alleyways could prove to be dangerous as well. He didn't know if there were enemies lying in wait.

"Nine, am I clear to continue?" He spoke into the comms, but received no response. A feeling of dread washed over him. "Arvakov, how copy?"

Distant gunfire erupted somewhere behind him. Immediately, he went to the comms again.

"Johnny, how copy?" Ghost barked, his tone urgent as panic began to set in.

It only took a few seconds for Soap to respond. "All good, Lt. I'm assuming yer wantin' t'know about the gunfire."

"Was it from you?"

"No, we haven't made contact yet. It sounds like it's comin' from the east, near that bell tower."

Ghost felt his heart begin to sink. "Fuck." He muttered, turning to look in the direction of the bell tower. Once more, he tried to contact Nine.

"Nine, do you read?"

Seconds passed with nothing. Then, after what felt like hours, he got a response.

"I read you, lieutenant!" Evgeny's voice was music to Ghost's ears, but the franticness of his tone was concerning. "My position's compromised! They've got me cor—"

Static overwhelmed the comms channel, causing Ghost to recoil at the sound. He had just lowered his head to fumble with his radio when the sound of an explosion echoed off in the distance. His head snapped back in the direction of the bell tower, which was now engulfed in flames. His heart plummeted into his stomach.

"No!" Ghost screamed, recklessly sprinting back through the alleyways he'd already navigated.

Soap was on the comms again, his voice blaring over the pounding in Ghost's ears. "What the fuck was that?!"

"Nine is compromised! They blew up the goddamn tower!" Ghost shouted, pushing himself to run faster. "I'm going back for him!"

"That place is going to be crawling with hostiles! Wait for us, we'll be there soon!"

"I'm not fucking waiting!"

Ghost turned off his comms before Soap could protest further. With his mind filled with thoughts of Evgeny, it was just another distraction

The stench of smoke grew stronger as he approached the area surrounding the tower. It stung his eyes and filled his lungs with each gasp of air, ultimately forcing its way back out through a ragged cough.

That wouldn't stop him, though. No matter what it took, he was getting in that building and finding Evgeny.

Ghost took cover behind a crumbling wall and peered around it. Several enemy soldiers surrounded the base of the tower, sifting through the debris that had fallen. The heat of rage consumed his heart and he stepped out with his finger on the trigger. He fired into the group until none remained, then made his way to the tower's entrance.

The smoke inside was thick and suffocating. Visibility was next to zero. Ghost fumbled around the room, using his hand and the barrel of his rifle as a guide. Above him, wooden structural beams groaned under the pressure of the weight from the wreckage.

"Nine!" Ghost called hoarsely, coughing as he stumbled into a wall. Strained wheezes escaped him, his eyes frantically scanning the smoke for him. "Evgeny!"

A slew of curses escaped him when gunfire suddenly erupted from another doorway, bullets striking the wall dangerously close to him. He threw himself sideways and returned fire, unable to tell if he hit his target through the smoke. Over the roar of the flames above, it was impossible to hear anything that wasn't right in front of him.

After a few seconds had passed, Ghost forced himself to move toward the other room. His boots hit something solid and he instantly looked down. He'd run into a body, and he prayed that it wasn't Evgeny as he flipped the body over.

An enemy. His shots had found their mark.

Stepping over the body, Ghost quickly searched the other room before staggering up the set of stairs to the next floor.

By that point, smoke inhalation was starting to get the best of him. Every breath was a struggle, reduced to nothing more than painful wheezes that made his lungs feel like they were being squeezed. His throat burned, his eyes stung with tears, and he was starting to feel lightheaded. His body was slowly giving up, but he refused to do so.

Upon reaching the second floor, Ghost had to lean against the wall in order to keep himself upright. He could barely hold his rifle steady as harsh coughs wracked his frame.

"Evgeny!" He croaked despite knowing he wouldn't be heard over the flames.

Pressing on, he stumbled into a room, trying to rub the tears from his eyes so he could see. Through the blanket of smoke, he could make out the faint shape of a body laying on the ground. He staggered forward, sinking to his knees once he reached the person. Turning them over, the world itself seemed to stop moving as he realized it was Evgeny.

"No no no... fuck.. no!" Ghost cried, his movements frantic as he pulled down Evgeny's scarf and pressed his fingers to his neck. He silently begged the universe to let there be a pulse. "Arvakov, don't you fucking dare!"

Nothing. Hot tears threatened to stain his balaclava as he pressed his forehead to Evgeny's chest, his frame shaking with stifled sobs.

This couldn't be happening. Ghost refused to believe it was. It couldn't be.

Evgeny couldn't be dead. He couldn't be.

"Please..." Ghost had been reduced to nothing more than pitiful whimpers. He sucked in a strained breath and slammed his fist on the floor, anguish burning through his core. "Goddamnit!" He snarled through clenched teeth, tears streaming down his face.

Ghost felt the world around him begin to fade. He allowed himself to slump forward on Evgeny's chest, giving up the fight. If Evgeny was gone, he'd rather let the flames consume him than go on living a miserable life where everyone he loved was ripped away from him over and over again. His breathing slowed, the smoke gradually snuffing out what little life he had in him.

Then, he felt it. Even as his gentle hold on Evgeny's neck slackened, he could feel it. A pulse—weak, but there. Something brushed against Ghost's arm and he weakly flinched, raising his head to see that Evgeny had wrapped his fingers around his arm.

"Bloody hell..." Ghost rasped. He gripped Evgeny's vest and held on tight, relief crashing over him in waves.

Evgeny may be alive, but he wasn't out of the woods yet.

Ghost stiffened as he heard the ceiling supports above him groan, threatening to come down on them. They needed to get out of there.

With renewed strength and adrenaline pumping through his veins, Ghost forced himself to his feet. He heaved Evgeny over his shoulder and shuffled to the stairwell, determined to get him out.

The tower was on the verge of collapse when Ghost came staggering out of it with Evgeny slung over his shoulder. Soap and the others were waiting and immediately came to Ghost's aid when his knees finally gave out and he collapsed in the street.

Before unconsciousness dragged him into its depths, he reached over and held Evgeny's arm, softly wheezing. The voices around him faded away and darkness consumed his vision.