Ghost x Male!OC
••Evgeny wonders why Ghost has become so distant while Ghost comes to terms with his feelings.

Evgeny first noticed the change after he'd been cleared for duty by the infirmary.

Ghost was distant—more distant than usual. Their interactions were few and far between and if they did interact, Ghost didn't speak much—if at all—and the interaction was painfully professional.

There was no 'Evgeny' or other playful nicknames. It was 'Nine' or just a nod of acknowledgement. Nothing else. Things had gone from budding relationship back down to bare minimum, similar to the way things had been when Evgeny first joined the force.

He'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him. He wasn't used to seeing Ghost so distant, even going so far as to avoid contact completely.

Truthfully, it upset him. It angered him. But most of all, it depressed him. He hadn't even gotten the chance to thank Ghost for his heroics, let alone have a normal conversation with him. He spent long nights laying alone in bed, wishing Ghost would sneak in and hold him like he had a few short weeks ago.

The confusion, the longing, the heartache... it was becoming too much for him to bear. He couldn't keep living like this, pretending everything was fine. Nothing was fine.

One night, as a terrible storm raged outside, Evgeny made the decision to confront Ghost.

Whether he liked it or not, he was going to talk to him. No more running away. No more cold shoulder. He was going to salvage what was left and rebuild, but he needed Ghost's help. He needed to understand what happened.

•••

Ghost couldn't sleep.

He foolishly believed that since thoughts of Evgeny had been plaguing his every waking hour, his body would finally be exhausted enough to let him rest by the end of the day.

Oh, how wrong he was.

When he couldn't sleep, he went to the gym—and that's where he was now. His hands wrapped in white tape, relentlessly throwing punch after punch into the sack that hung in front of him. His muscles glistening with sweat under the hazy yellow lights. His grunts and growls of frustration echoing through the room.

This was exactly why he didn't allow his feelings to surface. Once they did, they were hard to get rid of and only distracted him from his work. It became even harder since Evgeny was part of his work. He couldn't separate the two—not when he saw him every fucking day with that same fucking look on his face.

The look of confusion and heartbreak that absolutely gutted him.

He hit the punching bag again, a wave of stinging pain firing up his arm upon impact. He'd been here for too long. He was pushing himself too hard. But did he care? No. If his body gave up now, so be it. He'd do almost anything to escape the agony of reality.

Ghost didn't hear the door open, nor did he see the dark figure that stepped into the room. He just kept punching the bag in an almost mindless manner, each punch growing angrier and angrier, unable to stop.

"Lieutenant."

The word shattered his concentration. His next punch glanced off the side of the bag instead of hitting it straight on. He took a staggering step back and winced at the ache in his arm, chest heaving.

"A word, please."

"No." Ghost muttered between breaths, his gaze locked on the floor.

He knew who that voice belonged to. He couldn't do this. Not now. Not like this.

"I am not letting you walk away this time." There was a growl to Evgeny's voice. "We need to talk. Now."

Ghost lifted his gaze and hit the bag. "I have nothing to say to you."

He went to throw another punch when the bag suddenly fell to the floor, the rope holding it up having been cut by a dagger that was now lodged in the wall.

"You have been avoiding me from the moment I was cleared by the infirmary." Evgeny said, stepping closer as he spoke. "There was never a heads up, never an explanation. Hell, I thought I must've done something terrible to make you switch up like that, but I've done nothing!"

Ghost eyed him dangerously, fists clenched by his sides. "Arvakov, I'm fuckin' warning you..."

"Go ahead. Hit me!" Evgeny seethed. He gestured to himself, his eyes gleaming with tears. "Nothing can hurt more than the emotional pain you have already caused me."

"Oh, fuck off!" Ghost snapped, rage mixing with his agony. "Why can't you see that you are the fucking problem? I wouldn't be losing sleep and feeling like shit every. fucking. day if it weren't for you!" He screamed. "I wouldn't be here beating myself up because I fucking love you and don't know what to do about it!"

Evgeny's eyes widened upon hearing Ghost's confession. He stood still, trying over and over again to process that information. It didn't feel real. None of this did.

Ghost soon realized what he had said and yelled "fuck!" before turning and storming towards the door that led outside.

He needed to leave. He needed to get out.

"Ghost, wait!" Evgeny cried, but Ghost had already made up his mind.

He ran into the torrential rain after him, immediately getting soaked. Bolts of lightning illuminated the towering clouds as they danced across the sky.

Ghost made it as far as a few feet into the grass before he fell to his knees. He stripped the balaclava from his face and looked at the sky, tears mixing with the raindrops that painted his cheeks.

Evgeny stopped a few paces behind him, standing there and watching. For a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of the rain and the distant boom of thunder.

He opened his mouth to speak. "Ghost—"

"Don't call me that..." Ghost's voice was weak and pained. "Just... don't.."

Evgeny took a step forward, drops of rain rolling down the bridge of his nose. "What would you like to be called, then?" He asked gently.

Ghost closed his eyes, his answer nearly getting caught in his throat. He drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Simon."

Simon.

The name brought a small smile to Evgeny's face, as he realized Ghost was revealing his true name.

Not his callsign. Not the name he was feared by.

Simon.

His name.

After a moment's hesitance, Evgeny walked forward and settled down on his knees beside Simon. They sat there for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence as the rain washed away all of their pain and suffering.

"Hey.."

Evgeny turned his head to find Simon looking at him. A bolt of lightning overhead briefly illuminated his soft features, casting a bluish-white light across his face before disappearing seconds later. He waited for the rumbling thunder to pass before continuing.

"I'm sorry.. for everything..." Simon murmured. He looked down at his hands, remembering what Evgeny had said and smiling a little bit.

Evgeny followed Simon's gaze. "I am too." He said, offering his hand.

Simon's eyes flicked over to Evgeny's hand. He took it into his own and gently squeezed.

Evgeny squeezed back, his smile growing.
"я тебя люблю." He remarked softly.

"English, Arvakov." Simon mumbled with a chuckle. He adored when Evgeny spoke Russian, though he would never admit it out loud.

"I said 'I love you'." Evgeny replied, leaning over to press a kiss to Simon's cheek. He could taste the rain on his skin and feel the stubble against his lips.

Simon traced his fingers along Evgeny's jaw, gently holding his chin as he turned his head to face him. In such close proximity, Evgeny could see the love and adoration in his eyes. He brought his hands up to hold Simon's face and grinned.

"What?" He asked playfully.

"Just kiss me..." Simon whispered before pressing his lips against Evgeny's, his eyes fluttering shut.

They kissed each other in the rain, allowing themselves to love one another tenderly and passionately. The stresses of the world melted away and in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Everything would be alright.