BLOOD||HUNGER
[PREV PART] [AO3]
OOO I'm very excited to share this chapter! We're getting close to the finish line!
Its name is "The Song of Us"
Page 54 of the βBlooede StarvatfΕre-dΔdeβ, parable 15:
The Blind man asks his companion, before dawn break,
What do you believe, is a beastβs fate,
Once death seizes its life, in his inevitable grasp?
The beast, his heart knowing of the fallen knightβs pleas,
Of men they lost, who were left to be but a wormβs dark feast,
Answers, death reaches for monsters all the same as men,
For the unjust, for the cruel,
For the kind, for the forgiving,
All bones become one, until they become none,
As death is the only being, to see all as one and the same.
This city is quiet, in the way a drowning is. Something wicked is happening under the surface, hidden from plain sight. If only its victim had air to scream.
The Hunter has intel beyond the SASβs scope, beyond Laswellβs. Informants, comms. A man pronounced to all as dead. How is it possible, they were written off as a non-threat before?
Soap grits his teeth, tapping the lit end of his cigarette on a wall. Simon started moving a few minutes ago, the poison once again retreating. By the haunted look in his brown eyes, John could tell they both know heβs running out of time.
Price has been arguing with Laswell while helping Simon. Something about the fact the Hunter seemingly didnβt exist a year prior, on paper. Appeared out of nowhere one day with an army behind them, ready to burrow into intelligence networks in a way even Makarov couldnβt.
Makarovβs name came up a lot in that conversation. Enough that Soap had to take a smoke.
Anger thrums through his veins. Begging for blood. The same incessant screaming that drove him to choke the life out of Makarov, the same fire that kept him going through this personal slice of hell.
Maybe heβs an idiot, for wanting to kill the Hunter, for believing it will change anything.
The cigaretteβs flame licks his fingers.
Soap crushes it against the wall. He turns around, watching Simon and the Captain. Far enough to not hear them, but they seem to need a bit of privacy anyway. Soap canβt say heβs ever seen Price that emotional, in their short meetings.
He asks himself where Gaz is when the Lieutenant approaches him.
βPrice is bloody livid, isnβt he?β Gaz huffs.
Soap hums. His eyes move from the Captain to Simon, his mask still on the ground besides him.
Kyle follows his stare, βdid you know Ghostβs identity, when I found you two?β
βNoβ, the white skull almost glows in the moonlight, βI only found out whenβ¦ the communicator tried to use it against him.β
He can feel Gaz scan his features, βand you still decided to work with him.β
Soap doesnβt answer. Simon and Price are hugging now, the movement uncoordinated to Ghost. He doesnβt know how he can tell.
He turns to face Gaz, βI swore we will finish this together. I donβt go back on my word.β
βWe both know this goes beyond that, Soap.β Gaz gives him a half smile, βthe way you look at himβ¦ Havenβt seen you like that with anyone else.β
Soap frowns, scoffing, βdonβt know what yer-β
βYou have feelings for him, donβt you?β Gaz asks, almost gently.
β¦Feelings?
β¦..Could he?
βIβ¦β
βDonβt lie to yourself.β Gaz murmurs, βin all the years Iβve known you, you didnβt act like this. Going against everyone you know, jumping in front of him when Price starts threatening him, letting him rest his bloody head on your legs- cβmon Soap, youβre fucking smitten with the man-β
βKyle.β Soap stops him, head hanging down to hide the embarrassment painting his cheeks red. He scrubs a weary hand over his features, looking up at his friend between his fingers.
Gazβs eyes soften. Soap sighs, βI- this is not the time for that kind of shite. We need to fuckinβ dust the Hunter, and then-β
And then what?
Soap lowers his hand, stare unconsciously drifting towards Simon. Since when have his eyes started doing that?
It hasnβt been more than a month since he arrived to this godforsaken city. How is it that John canβt imagine being alone again?
Orβ¦ how canβt he imagine an βafterβ without Simon?
βI wonβt lie to you.β Kyle starts, his tone gentler, βI still donβt fully trust Ghost. Even if he isβ¦ Simon Riley.β the Lieutenant places a hand on his shoulder, βbut I can tell what you truly want, even if you think itβs not feasible.β
βThatβs because it isnβt-β
βBullshit.β Gaz turns John around to face him, βlook, we are not good men. Weβve been operating outside the law forβ¦ for as long as I can remember. What we do, the way we dirty our hands...β
Kyle lets out a shaky exhale, squeezing his shoulder, βwhat Iβm saying is, we can make people disappear. And if youβ¦ if you want that, I can help. Iβm sure Price will too-β
βYer out of yer mind-β
βAre you going to go back to Scotland, mate?β Gazβs voice sharpens on desperation, βare you gonna go back to feeling like you have nothing to live for? Can you really leave this life, leave Ghost, behind?β He almost whispers the end, βbe honest.β
How could he go back? No apartment, endless job search, a buzz under his skin that cannot be scrubbed off, disappointment to his family, emptiness, emptiness, emptiness-
βWhat else can Ah do?!β Soap tenses under Gazβs hand.
That hand keeps him steady all the same, βwhatever you want, John.β Kyle smiles sadly, βme and Price donβt have that freedom, but you two? You donβt have stuffy generals breathing down your neck.β
βI donβt-β Soap cuts himself off, thoughts whirling faster in his mind. He gets reminded of what his therapist used to say about him, back when he was just discharged.
βYou fixate on danger, John. To the point of obsession. You donβt know when to let go, if you believe you can make things right.β
βEven if the cost is more than you should be willing to pay.β
βJustβ¦ think about it. Besidesβ¦β Gaz looks away, expression darkening, βI have a feeling the 141 might need people like you in the future.β
Soap brows furrow, βdishonorably discharged adrenaline addicts?β
Kyle chuckles, βnoβ, his hands tighten on Soapβs shirt, βpeople we can trust. People who are willing to do whatβs right, even if they know they shouldnβt. Even if they donβt act the way the higher ups would want them.β
His brown eyes turn to look at John, determination he first saw on bootcamp only growing stronger, βpeople like you.β
Soap goes through another cigarette with Gaz by the time Price and Simon return to them. Both of their eyes shine with tears.
βLaswell did some digging.β Price grunts, βwasnβt easy, finding intel on the Hunter. They know their way around our networks, clearly.β his stare flickers towards Simon, βthis operation-β
βMass murderβ Soap corrects. Calling this an operation would spit on the dozens of innocent people left to rot here.
βMass murderβ, the Captain continues, βis very unusual for the Hunterβs soldiers. Almostβ¦ flashy.β
βThe communicator admitted it was an attempt to frame me.β Simon rolls up the mask in his hands, slipping it on, βthey needed to show the British Army Iβm too dangerous to keep.β
βAnd they knew the SAS would send the 141 because of the informant.β Gaz huffs.
Price nods, βwhich they did succeed in, but it also exposed them to us.β
βThe SAS wouldnβt have investigated it further if ye actually killed Ghost the first time around.β Soap grumbles, wincing a moment later when he remembered who heβs talking to.
The Captain takes it surprisingly seriously. βCorrect. This is not the first time they hide behind a smaller, supposedly unconnected criminal.β he hangs his arms on his tacvest, commending voice booming in the empty streets, βthe Hunter is now top priority for the 141, our orders are to eliminate them, along with any high ranking officers remaining within their army. This mission is classified to all but us and Laswell - anyone else will be treated as a potential collaborator of the Hunter.β
βWhat about Soap and Ghost, Captain?β Gaz asks.
Price sighs, βGhost has escaped after releasing the civilian he captured as leverage. And John MacTavish?β a sly smile pushes his mustache up, βhe has never set foot in this city.β
Kate Laswell isnβt someone Soap knew well, back in his service. Has heard her name being dropped in a couple of debriefs, a few calls here and there regarding missions.
He becomes increasingly grateful sheβs on their side, as she brings up more and more intel on the Hunter. Their main source of information is the informant Ghost killed - the man recognized several undercover soldiers moving supplies in and out of the city in the past few weeks. He knew something big was going to happen, but the SAS waved it off as a local gang.
On the day of his death, he managed to send in one last report. The informant knew his time was limited, that his cover was blown, so the message was painfully short.
βSkull in warehouse, Konservy, game overβ
It was not clear if who he referred to when he transmitted the name βSkullβ, and at the time the comms officer asked the informant to repeat, thinking it was a mistyped βGhostβ. With what they know now, itβs highly likely he was actually talking about the Hunter, and their red skull insignia. Konservy is a name of a warehouse, two clicks out of the city, as Laswell quickly found out.
βGame overβ is the agreed upon sign for caught spies.
Price and Gaz have brought out their maps, attempting to lock down the warehouseβs location. Soap and Ghost were gently shooed away after it became obvious they donβt have any more useful intel to provide.
βHowβs your neck?β Ghost asks him, the two of them leaning against a crumbling wall.
Soap opens his mouth to answer, when gloved fingers brush over the bruised skin on his throat. βI uhβ¦β he swallows, the hand following the movement, βI feel fine.β
Ghost hums, caressing the wound for a moment longer before pulling away. Soap wants to chase the touch.
He really is in over his head, isnβt he?
βSimon.β Soap looks up at the bright skull mask, βhave you thought aboutβ¦ what are ye gonna do after?β
β...no.β
β...Would ye go back? To what you did before?β
Simon stares at him deeply, eyes closing, βI donβt think I can.β he looks back at Soap, βyou? What did you do before?β
Soap chuckles bitterly, βah, I was spendinβ my newly civvi life indulging in only the greatest of pleasures. Like sittinβ in an office for nine hours a day, or knittinβ a scarf on my therapistβs orders.β
Simonβs shoulders shake with a badly hidden laugh, βIβd like to see you knit.β
Soap grins, βoh I was a natural. It definitely didnβt have several holes by the time I was done.βΒ
βHow did you get here, then?β Simon asks, mirth still creasing his eyes.
His smile drops, words dying on his tongue, βI uhβ¦β that weeks-old shame starts creeping back in, βwas about to be evicted. Got fired, bastards never liked me anyway. I jusβ took all of my money andβ¦ ran as far as I could.β
Simon hums, shoulder leaning in to nudge his. Soap thinks the conversation is over after a few moments of silence, the both of them mauling over the words, when Simon surprises him.
βThink Iβd like thatβ¦ running away.β he murmurs.
βAye? Where would ye go?β
βDonβt know. Donβt think it matters.β Simon leans in closer, their foreheads almost touching, βas long as the company is good.β
Soap feels a shiver go down his spine, eyes wide as he tries to find the joke that must be in Simonβs.
But he looks so painfully sincere, even when he finally leans away, βtoo bad thereβs none βere. Might ask Laswell if she got any tips on finding partners in crime.β
Soap lets out a breath he didnβt know he was holding, βthink they make dating apps for fuckers like ye?β
βDoubt Iβll find anyone as mental as you on Tinder, Johnny.β Simon deadpans.
βThatβs because yer looking in the wrong place - Christian Mingle is where the real crazy bastards are.β
Simon canβt hold in his laugh this time, and for the first time Soap hears the way he snorts a little when his giggles become uncontrollable. Itβs a horribly endearing sound, one that he wants to hear for every day for the rest of his life.
It makes his heart hurt, heavy, sinking in his chest like a death sentence.
Gaz was right.
Heβs in love with Simon Riley.
Gaz went back to get the vehicle he and Price infiled with. It had a laptop, a few maps, and the most wonderful MREs Soap ever had. He never thought heβd miss that shite, but after running on a handful of oranges and a possibly moldy sandwich, they tasted like heaven on earth.
As he and Ghost had their meal (Simonβs eyes sparkled in a way that told Soap he was clearly as delighted with the food as he was), the 141 finalized their plan with Laswell. Soap could see them arguing about something, but he was far too preoccupied with eating to care at the moment.
Ghost, however, did care, βneed anything, Price?β
The Captain snaps his head up, taking off his hat and scratching at his hair, βwe have an angle to breach, butβ¦β
Gaz joins in, βWe donβt have intel on how many guards are posted, their locationβ¦ mission will be doomed from the start if we just go in guns blazing.β
βWhy not do some recon, then?β Soap wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, βweβre all trained for that.β
βToo risky, the warehouse is exposed, and the Hunter wonβt leave any obvious gaps in security if theyβre worth their salt.β Price grunts.
Ghost gets up, walking over to the maps spread on the truckβs hood, βthen we break in.β
Soap smirks at the assurance in his voice, βand thatβs why I love the Ghost.β
He instantly catches the knowing expression on Gazβs face, as well as Simon stiffening beside him. Soap curses himself mentally, feeling his face heat up in shame. He prays for any god that might listen, that Ghost didnβt take it as seriously as the truth is.
Thankfully, Price saves him from blurting out some more recently-discovered-emotions, βno other way but through, eh Simon? What do you have in mind?β
Ghost scans the maps of the warehouse Laswell has sent over, βThe Hunter doesnβt know weβre working together, if theyβre expecting an attack they would only expect two people - me and Johnny.β his eyes flicker to Soapβs for a brief moment, βif we split up, the 141 could take them by surprise.β
βYou said theyβre after you and John, Simon. If they catch you, we might not be able to help.β Price says grimly.
Ghost sighs, looking away frustrated. His head turns to face Soap, eyes calculating, β...what if they donβt know itβs us?β
βWhat?β Price asks.
Ghost continues, eyes still staring deeply into his, βJohnny can easily disguise himself, heβs done so before. All he needs is to cover up his face and hair.β
The Captain nods to Ghost, βand what about you, son? Everyone knows your mask.β
βBut no one knows his face.β Soap answers, understanding washing over him, βbut Simon-β
βI canβt be Ghost if we want to finish this.β Simon brushes fingers over the bone-white teeth of the skull mask, hand tightening into a fist.
Gaz nods slowly, βand we canβt be the 141.β he sends a meaningful look to the Captain, βthis operation has to be kept secret. If the SAS learns we collaborated with the Ghostβ¦β
βThen we wonβt be.β Price walks to the back of the truck, pulling out 3 black balaclavas and throwing them to Soap and Gaz.
Price begins explaining their plan, βLaswell has gathered up a few blueprints of the Konservy warehouse. There are several key points that appear to be far too open for us to breach, all except one - the offloading garage. Weβll split into two teams, me and Gaz will take the offices and CCTV rooms, clearing the way for Soap and Ghost to infiltrate the main machinery room.β
βOur plan depends on each team watching the otherβs six, weβll have to keep comms up.β Gaz adds.
βOnce the first team takes over the CCTV room, we will be able to locate the Hunter. The faster we do this, the less likely reinforcements will arrive.β Price hands Soap and Ghost a radio.
βDo we know where they keep their vehicles?β Soap asks while fitting the comms over his clothes.
βYeah, should be around where we first enter. Why?β Gaz raises a brow towards him.
A wicked smile spreads on Soapβs lips, βmight be able to set up a little surprise for any newcomers.β
Ghost chuckles darkly, βalways ready to craft a trap, arenβt you, Johnny?β
βNever failed me before, Simon.β
βYou can take a look at our supplies, take whatever you need.β Price looks over each of them, βany questions?β
Soap flexes his hands, adrenaline thrumming a familiar song through his veins, anger painting his vision red, βwhat are we waiting for?β
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