wildmtthyme

[wildmtthyme]

☣Radiation☣

Concerning “Acute Radiation Sickness” (ARS) – apparently, the body’s cells – if not destroyed – are very efficient at getting rid of radiation and repairing the damage if the radiation is received from an outside source (external exposure). If the radiation is introduced into the body via an internal source (ingested or through an open wound) – the body is efficient at either collecting the radiation particles into the blood where it is then moved through the system and gotten rid of or through the digestive system where it is then removed as waste. The process can take weeks, months, or years depending on the level of exposure and the symptoms are basically what we see in the show and the games. Vomiting, general ill health, skin lesions etc. But – the general gist is this: if they’re alive, their body has negated the radiation within them. That’s how the body works. If the cells were destroyed by the radiation (which is what going feral sounds like – the brain cells being destroyed and no longer able to repair themselves from the radiation damage) then they’d be dead, even with the mutations.

It’s because ghouls still require sustenance of some kind – either in the form of additional radiation or food itself that I’m going to lean more into the belief that if their cells didn’t process/filter out the radiation, they’d be dead. Thus, though they have the appearance that they do and the radiation may have given them long lives/increased strength (which makes sense when you consider the regenerative capabilities of their cells – including the cells that make up their muscle tissue, allowing them to use all of their strength as opposed to being limited like regular humans are by not tearing their muscles etc.) And while they may keep getting doses of radiation, their symptoms may be less severe (vomiting etc.) they are no less detrimental to their overall health (the day when their brain cells have finally deteriorated beyond repair causing them to go feral). It could be argued that that too would result in their death, but we’ll stay with the feral notion and just say that perhaps certain parts of the brain deteriorate faster than others and the parts of the brain that control cognitive function/memory/what makes a person civilized/etc. are the first to go. But, eventually, even a feral ghoul will succumb to ARS.

That being said, if a ghoul doesn’t subject themselves to continued high exposures to radiation – their risk of going feral is greatly reduced. But if they do (and the Mojave has parts that are very irradiated, and the food and water is irradiated etc.) – that would be another check in the column of the generally agreed upon hypothesis that the main ingredient in the ghoul’s chems on the show is Rad Away.

While one can receive radiation damage from feral ghouls in the fallout games, I think it’s because they unknowingly subject themselves to more radiation – drawn to ingest or seek out high doses of radiation as a food source, raising their levels as the time goes on. Because, if you disarm a ghoul (non-feral) in the game, you don’t receive radiation damage from their unarmed attacks.

Also, on the “romance” side of things – in Fallout 4, the sole survivor can have a relationship with Hancock, a chem-created ghoul (but a ghoul nevertheless) and there are no adverse effects nor any spike in radiation damage though it is made very clear that Hancock and the sole survivor are intimate on a regular basis.

[wildmtthyme]

Head-canons regarding Ghoulification, "the ghoul chems", and non-canon Vault 14 (created for the purpose of this fic specifically).

In the east, the Institute may have been the big baddie but in the west, it's Vault-Tec. Anything on the surface that has any amount of science behind it, more than likely has ether the Enclave or Vault-Tec roots. We know about the different vaults and the different experiments. So, these are just some of my personal head-canons based upon years of playing the games and will be used in my upcoming fic.

Vault-Tec has been experimenting with "Ghoulification" for generations. They want all of the strengths and none of the weaknesses, including the physical appearances. Leave it to Vault-Tec to want only the sweets and none of the sours.

The "chicken fucker" dude? Yeah, he knew exactly what he was doing and what that chem was going to do to Thaddeus. Maybe he ran away from one of the vaults doing the experimenting, like Virgil did in the Commonwealth, who knows. Point being, we know ghouls can be created via chems. Thaddeus and Hancock both prove that. But the "formula" he uses is flawed or outdated, allowing for ghoulification with the eventual negative side-effects.

The radiation experimentation takes place in many vaults, some resulting in straight up ghouls (vault 12) but the core experiments on ghoulification is in Vault 14, located in an undisclosed location in Northern California. Their original research was to simply allow for a return to the surface, to be able to survive the radioactive fallout, ingest the radioactive food/water, etc. But they quickly changed their directive upon learning of the side-effects of rapid healing and extended life. Their new directive was nothing short of immortality.

Vault 14 is also responsible for the "Ghoul Chems"; the chems the ghouls take to stop their descent into madness, aka becoming "feral". It was one of the many failed serums and was abandoned. The "chicken fucker" guy absconded with this and his outdated ghoulification formula when he fled, he later sold the formula for the ghoul chems.

Some 20 years after Thaddeus becomes a ghoul, Vault 14 produces their final and perfected formula. A serum that creates a ghoul in all but appearances while still maintaining all higher brain function indefinitely. They never attempt to find a "cure".

The serum is successfully administered to three test subjects before Vault 14 is ultimately raided, all test subjects escape and all research is destroyed- the raiders having no use for it and only looking for what they deem valuable. The test subjects that managed to escape took with them various things from finished serums and experimental chems to formulas.

[wildmtthyme]

WIP header preview. Yes, I know I still have other stories to finish/post. But... but... this one... (⌐■_■)

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Master List can be found here.

Chapter 5: The Alternative.

Warnings: Emotionally distant Simon. Arguing? Angst. Plan-B talk/use. Simon being Simon.

<- Chapter 4. Bad Coping Mechanisms.

The next morning, he woke before her and eased himself away from her… his mind already racing as he went into the bathroom and cleaned up his clothing and gear. He took it to the laundry room and started the washer before he went into the kitchen to start the kettle. His own voice echoed in his head… [I love you… Marry me…]he shook his head sharply and scrubbed at his face with a heavy sigh. He made his tea with a frown marring his brow… he’d been in… a bad, bad place when he’d come to the flat last night. Morning.

His spine immediately stiffened when her sleepy voice filled the silence. He pulled one of her smaller mugs down and set it on the counter, dropping one of her tea bags in it before pouring the water in and backing off, turning to lean against the opposing counter. “Mornin’.” His voice came out rough sounding, more so than usual. He sipped at his Earl Grey quietly. His eyes flicked up to her but immediately darted away. He saw her drift over to monitor her tea… but the silence that fell over them was… different.

Her voice came out… so small. You didn’t mean any of it. She didn’t say it like a question. He paused mid-sip… lowering the mug and taking a shallow breath before he looked over at her. But she wasn’t looking at him… her hands were resting on the counter on either side of her mug, her shoulders sagged. He swallowed thickly as he twisted and set his mug down on the counter, folding his arms over his chest before he spoke.

“No.” He could almost hear it… like a rolling metal door slamming down for the way her eyes slammed shut, her chin tilting towards her shoulder away from him. The silence felt… like a thousand knives. And the lie tasted like vinegar on his tongue. He expected her to walk out of the room, to remain quiet, like she did whenever he hurt her with his callousness.

What he didn’t expect was for her to turn on him, her eyes flashing with anger. She took a step towards him and had she not been so small, he would have readied himself… he’d seen that look in the face of many others before… it was a threat of violence. But she stopped herself, instead. She flashed her teeth when she nearly growled at him.

His throat clicked when he swallowed, his arms tensing. You want to pull back on the whole marry me bullshit, fine. That’s fine, don’t expect you to ever make that kind of commitment to me. But don’t you ever fucking say you love me again if you don’t fucking mean it. You may think you’re a mean son-of-a-bitch Simon but I know you, as much as you like to think I don’t. But I do. And one thing you aren’t is a fucking liar. I know you were out of your mind last night, I get that, I do. But you didn’t have to fucking lie to me. His brow lowered over eyes that had gone glassy with trapped emotion as she railed against him, her voice rising and falling with conviction and her own emotion.

A muscle jumped in his jaw and though he didn’t speak, her brows shot up and she gestured outwards in a ‘what’ motion. Either you lied last night or you’re lying now, either way! Fucking hell, Simon! She wiped her face with a certain air of frustration as a tear skipped down her face. She turned away from him and finished making her tea, throwing the tea bag away with sharp, jerky movements before she picked up her mug and took it with her, moving out of the kitchen and heading back towards the bedroom. “Where are you going?” He couldn’t help the question. She never took anything other than water back there, her own weird rule!

The only thing that answered him was a slammed door. He cursed under his breath and scrubbed at his face again before he took a punishingly large swallow of his own hot tea.

Twenty minutes later, he was sitting at the dinning room table when the bedroom door reopened. He looked up to see her walk into the kitchen, dressed for the day, freshly showered, and setting her apparently empty mug into the sink. She walked quickly to the door, pulling her coat off the hook and tugging it on. “Where are you going?” He felt like a broken record at this point. She sighed and shook her head. To the pharmacy.

“Why?” He looked slightly confused as she pulled her purse off the hook and gathered her keys off the small entry way table, putting them in her pocket before she sat down on the bench just there and started working her shoes on… but upon his follow up question, she jerked upright and pinned him with an exasperated look. To get the fucking morning after pill, Simon! His spine straightened and he swallowed thickly again.

He felt a strange pit open up in his stomach and before he knew what he was doing, he was on his feet, crossing the small space between them and pushing his hand against the door just as she tried to open it. “What?! Hang on.” She looked up at him with a certain amount of surprise before she sighed. Ya know, plan b or whatever. She gestured off to the side. You didn’t wear a—he held a hand up. “No, no… I know all of that but why are you going to go get one?”

Her expression shifted as she just stared at him for a moment. Disbelief of the bad kind was plastered on her face. Are you fucking serious right now? He pressed his lips together and gave a curt nod. She gestured towards the kitchen. You can’t even decide if you love me or not and you want me to fucking just let the dice roll on having a kid with you?

The corner of his mouth twitched. A tell of his and one she clearly picked up on. He took a deeper breath and another step closer to her, watching as she gave him a warning look. Just… move. She pushed at his wrist… and then his chest but not really, her hands were there and there was some pressure but not near enough for him to take her move seriously. He reached up and cupped her cheek gently.

“Let me make this perfectly clear.” He murmured low, wishing his voice would stop trying to run away from this… hell, wishing that he would stop trying to run away from this. “I do love you. I just…” He sighed and let his head fall, resting his forehead against hers. He heard her return sigh. You’re scared, I get it. But I can’t… she hung her hand on his forearm and he watched her eyes shutter. You can’t play with me like that, Simon. He nodded. And I’m still going to the pharmacy. He winced around his eyes but nodded again.

He couldn’t help the chill that was settling in his chest, though. She looked at him strangely for a moment as he straightened, lifting his brow off of her. Hey… he flicked his eyes away from her, feeling discomfort settle over him like a weighted blanket.

Her hand settled on the center of his chest. Look at me. He sighed and did as she said, staring down into her beautiful eyes. Don’t think this is because I don’t ever want to have your kids, Simon. He pressed his lips together tightly, his jaw tensing. But I don’t want you to ever regret it, do you understand what I’m telling you? He gave a slight nod. “Lem’me get dressed and I’ll come with you.” The look she gave him was almost chastising. I don’t need—he shook his head at her. “I want to.”

So, that’s what he did. He got dressed and walked with her down the street to the pharmacy. It wasn’t far… but it was a quiet morning. He still felt… off kilter. His entire world had shifted in a matter of days and as he held her hand in his, he couldn’t help but wonder what it meant for them. Though he’d tried to back pedal on her… he had meant what he’d told her last night. He wanted her to be with him for the rest of their lives… he did want to marry her… and the thought of losing her was… he just couldn’t think of it. It’d throw him straight over whatever edge he had left, he was certain of it.

Maybe he was old fashioned in his thinking or hadn’t kept up with the times but he found it surprisingly easy for her to get the pill she needed. He read the packaging insert three times before he relented and let her take it. He didn’t want her hurting her body over this. Even though she’d argued that it wouldn’t be sold if it would hurt her… he wasn’t trusting that. He watched her closely for the rest of the day… she seemed okay, if feeling tired. It was… strangely easier to focus on this and her than it was to focus on the fact that he’d lost his best mate. Anything to not think of that.

He knew he had a lot of work to do when it came to the two of them but he was grateful she was there for him when he got back from watching Johnny’s ashes flutter away on the wind. He didn’t speak but he didn’t need to, either. She let him just curl up with her on the couch, use her soft stomach as a gentle place to land. He held her lightly, worried he’d crush her if he held her as tightly as he wanted. Not going anywhere, Si. She had whispered so damned softly. He could do nothing more than nod.

Funny thing was that he was always trying to teach Johnny, being older than him and having more experience. But it was Johnny that ended up teaching him his most valuable lesson learned. Love wasn’t a lie. It was real. And it was right here in his arms. The love he felt for Melissa was so damned strong that it nearly took his breath away sometimes. But he wasn’t afraid of it anymore. Johnny taught him that. He drifted off to the feeling of her fingers combing through his hair, nice and slow.

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Master List can be found here.

Chapter 4: Bad Coping Mechanisms.

Warnings: Seriously bad coping mechanisms. Angst/Grieving. P in V Sex, Creampie, slight dubious consent. Bad head space Simon. 18+ Minors DNI.

<- Chapter 3. The Cost of Duty

Chapter 5. The Alternative ->

Those thoughts didn’t change the fact that he stayed only long enough to watch them transfer Johnny to the waiting hearse… before he tossed his ruck into the back of his truck, ignoring Price’s call of his name. He made the thirty-minute drive in a daze… pulling into his parking spot and nearly forgetting to lock his truck, almost forgot his ruck before he let himself into his flat. Sam greeted him at the door… and he numbly gave the dog a pat before he dropped his bag. Melissa came out of the bedroom, rubbing something on her arms with a smile that quickly died… her expression shifting to concern.

He was still wearing his skull balaclava, nothing she hadn’t seen before… but she knew him. She could see it in his eyes, something was wrong. What happened… she breathed out when she got close enough. He just reached, pulled her in, ignored his tac vest and hauled her up into a fierce embrace, hiding his face in her neck. He knew his gear was uncomfortable against her but he needed to hold her. He needed to feel her warmth.

His voice was barely there when he spoke. “Johnny.” He felt her arms tense and tighten around him. Oh, Si… she breathed out and he felt her hand brace the back of his head. Let’s… let’s get you torn down, yeah… he nodded but he didn’t put her down… he just walked to the bathroom, keeping her against him until he could sit her on the counter. He stayed standing against it and her both as he let her pull his balaclava off… felt her thumb brush under his eyes, feeling the wetness there.

The center of his chin trembled uncontrollably… he felt and heard her pull the Velcro straps on his vest, easing it off of him and letting it slide down to the floor. He held his arms up so she could pull his shirt off… and then his under shirt. His shoulders jerked as he fought to keep a sob in. He felt her hands rub up his biceps and over them, up his neck and pull him towards her into another hug. His arms nearly crushed her against him, as if he could keep her right there forever. It happened so damned fast… one moment Johnny was there and the next… he just wasn’t. It just poured out of him… his grief wracked him as he pressed his face into the crook of her neck, hiding in her hair as he wept heavily.

The whole time, he felt her hands holding him, her arms holding him, her damned legs wrapped around him – holding him. Trying to fucking hold him together. He suddenly jerked his face out of her neck and pressed his brow to hers, intense bloodshot eyes boring into hers as he braced her jaw with his hands. “You can’t ever leave.” He spoke with a thick, broken voice… a near hysterical desperation lacing each word. “Ever. You can’t. You just can’t.” He felt her hands on his wrists, gentle but firm. I’m not going anywhere, Simon… I’m right here. For as long as you’ll let me. He swallowed and nodded slightly. I- she closed her mouth quick, pressing her lips together before she settled on just pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

He knew what she wanted to say, what almost came out of her mouth. “Tell me.” Confusion flickered across her eyes. “Say it.” She shook her head slightly, still confused. “Tell me you love me.” His fingers pulled at her, his muscles all tense. He saw a certain sadness leak into her gaze but she shuttered it away. I love you. She said it quiet but he heard her truth in the words. “I love you.” He whispered the words. “So much it scares me.” He continued just as low. “If I lose you… I don’t know what’ll happen.” He confessed with a worried look. He saw a tear roll down her cheek… and he just kissed her, hard… desperate. He wanted her to know. She had to know. She pulled back with a gasping breath… but he followed. Si… let’s get you cleaned up… he shook his head, his hands already flying down to her hips and tugging her roughly.

He was all over the place in his head… from grief to love to desperation to hysteria to sorrow to elation… he was everywhere all at once. “Marry me.” He said the words impulsively and he saw the near offense in her eyes. You don’t mean that. “I do.” He kissed down to her neck roughly, raking his teeth along her skin. “I need you to be mine. Only mine. Forever.” He curled his fingers around her shorts and tugged them and her panties down roughly. Simon! Stop, you… you don’t… he tugged his belt buckle over after letting her clothes fall to the floor, stepping back into the valley of her thighs. “I mean it.” He breathed out, feeling dizzy from all of this. “You’re mine. Have ta make ya mine…”

He had no idea what he was doing, he felt completely out of control. He shoved his pants down, his cock springing up between them… he spat into his hand and smeared it onto the swollen head and crowded her in the same moment. Simon… Si… you… wait! You need… ah god… he guided, sought, found and snapped his hips, her sharp cry and his defiant yell filled the bathroom. His hand shot out, slapping against the mirror before he clapped his other one to her lower back, clawing at her delicate skin before he started moving. He set a hard, punishing pace, his eyes locking onto hers.

She looked… worried… a little scared… he kissed her, breaking the kiss to pant his breaths. “I love you… I know… I know this is… this is crazy… I know… I just… ah fuck…” His eyes fluttered as he felt his cock suddenly reach for her. “Fuck… sayin’ it makes me wanna come so fuckin’ bad…” He breathed out, felt her hand on his cheek. Sayin’ what… “Tha’ I love you… uhn… fuckin’ hell…” He clinched his teeth, his cock kicking as his balls tightened. He reached between them, his thumb seeking out her clit to rub rapid tight circles over it. “Need ya ta come, love… not… not gonna last…” He groaned low when she moaned sharp. Fuck… oh fuck… she threw her head back when she came, so sudden and so beautiful… he groaned, feeling her come apart like that was… I love you, Si… he gasped sharp, his entire body tensing as he came in a heartbeat, sharp and sudden, out of seemingly nowhere.

He stumbled towards her, his hips stuttering as he nearly fell onto her, his arm wrapping around her as he moaned. “Fuck… fuck… ah…” His hips twisted as he unloaded… his cock throbbing as he filled her up. His bulk surging forth each time in heavy, deep thrusts as he forced his cum deep into her each time, urging it to sink in, to find her, to fill her, to make her his. Eventually, he got undressed entirely and took her into the shower with him… refusing to let her get more than an arms reach away from him, even when they went to bed, where he fell into a deep, thankfully dreamless sleep thanks entirely to her being in his arms.

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Master List can be found here.

Chapter 3: The Cost of Duty.

Warnings: Canon character death. (Sorry, Suds). Heavy angst. Grieving. Bad Scottish accent writing (not sorry).

<- Chapter 2: The Call of Duty

Chapter 4: Bad Coping Mechanisms ->

The flight back was… he wasn’t sure. He still felt kind of… numb… his eyes locked on the flag covered box… holding the body of his closest friend. The mission had been a failure of epic proportions. For a couple of reasons. He felt his throat thicken and burn with grief… he wanted to look away but couldn’t. The rest of the team were sitting further away from the box than he was. But he couldn’t leave Johnny back here alone. He just… couldn’t.

Price had already said they’d spend a few days at base while Johnny’s family took care of his funeral arrangements… but that they’d be getting some of his ashes. So that they could have their own, private, sort of send-off. Price said that would take another few weeks, though.

But Simon didn’t want to be at base. He didn’t want to be in those halls that would echo with Johnny’s bygone voice. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go back to Mel’s arms. He wanted to sink into her and let his grief out. It had been a very long time since he’d lost someone close to him and he’d almost forgotten how… sharp… it felt. He couldn’t help but remember the last real conversation he had with Johnny, real talk, not mission talk. They were sitting on the roof of the building they were stationed at, surveying, gathering intel when they had a moment, a break to just be.

So, you still with that lass a’ yers? Johnny shot him a raised brow look, a knowing smirk tugging at his mug. Simon just rolled his eyes and gave a curt nod. Ut oh, what happen’? He shook his head but felt a shove to his shoulder. “She said she loved me.” Johnny went quiet. If there was anyone on the planet that knew him best, it was him. And he knew his particular opinion regarding the subject of love.

But then… Aye, wha’ of it? He shot him a look. “It’s bullshit.” Watch yer mouth, boyal. Johnny’s spine had straightened and his tone had gone chastising. Tha lass has been at yer side for years now, you think she stays because a’ yer good conversation? She loves ya, jus’ accept it. He was shaking his head slightly but Johnny leaned towards him. An’ be grateful fer it. A fine lass like tha? Through thick’n’thin, thas what makes a home, Ghostie. I ken ya feelins on it but ya only saw one side a love, tha bad side. I saw tha other growin’ up. My da loved my ma… so much… the man looked up and swallowed thickly. So damned much. Ya’d thought she made tha stars. An’ she loved him, boyal, like he hung tha moon jus fer ‘er. Is not all good, but is not all bad either. Thas tha way is supposed ta be. Now, tha lass ya got, she looks at ya… like my ma used ta look at my da. Tha same… doe eyed… look. Simon had swallowed thickly, watching as Johnny smirked at him. Ya hang tha moon fer ‘er, Simon… an there’s nuthin’ wrong with tha. He had leaned away then and Simon thought he was done but he spoke out to the night, throwing him another odd chestnut. An’ she made tha stars fer ya… I see tha when ya look at ‘er sometimes, too. So grouse all ya want, but its there in ya, too.

Simon sniffled quietly, scrubbing a hand down his face as he leaned forward, elbows landing hard on his knees as he took a heavy, deep breath. What the hell did Johnny know about love. What did Johnny know about anything.

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Master List can be found here.

Chapter 2: The Call of Duty (come on, it was too easy of a name not to pick it.)

Warnings: 18+ MDNI. Language. P in V Sex. Condom usage/Safe Sex (is that a warning, though?) Emotionally distant Simon (duh).

<- Chapter 1. The Topic of Love

Chapter 3. The Cost of Duty ->

The sun wasn’t up yet but he was, dressed and ready to go. He leaned down over the bed, pressing his lips to her brow. “I’ll be back soon.” He said what he always said. She nodded; her eyes barely open. She set her hand to his cheek and he felt her rub under his eye with her thumb. He ran his thumb over her lips before he bent lower and kissed her, soft at first… before he found himself pushing his knee onto the bed… his hand pressed down into the mattress as he climbed onto her. His tongue found hers and he hummed low, hearing her gift him a beautiful moan.

He wasn’t sure how long he kissed her, his mind buzzing and fuzzy when he came up for air. “Fuck… I gotta go…” He breathed out heavily, pressing his brow to hers. She nodded. Her hands were in his hair… she was looking up at him with her big beautiful eyes, the light from the hall giving him more than enough to see by. He nodded back but his hand was moving on its own… the sound of Velcro ripped through the silence… he tugged his vest off and let it fall to the side, she was kicking the blankets off. C’mere… he exhaled heavy as he started tugging at his belt buckle impatiently.

He hadn’t planned this… he’d never actually done this, gotten ready to leave and then not been able to… suddenly wanting her so bad that he felt like he was going to claw his own skin off if he didn’t have her. “Need ya…” He breathed out roughly before he kissed her again. It took no time… no time at all before his jeans and boxers were stuffed down his thighs… her panties torn and hanging uselessly around her hips… the condom rolled on with practiced ease… his face buried in her neck as she clawed at his still clothed back while he fucked into her, bullying his cock as deep in as he could each time. Fuck! Si!

He groaned low, trying to spread his knees and getting frustrated that he couldn’t… he reached down and shoved roughly, getting one knee out was all he needed before he spread them as much as he could, his hips canting as he started snapping them… angling his hips just right… ramming that spot inside of her over and over until he felt her tighten around him. “S’right… c��mon… s’good girl… come fer me…” He breathed out roughly, sweat beading on his brow, having not put his mask on yet. When she came undone, he found his teeth sinking into her shoulder as he groaned long and low, his cock kicking wildly as her cunt pulled on him in a rhythm all its own. His body surged against her, rocking hard enough to make the headboard knock against the wall as he emptied. He kissed his way to her lips, giving her a passionate, almost sloppy kiss before breaking it, panting breaths heating the air between their lips.

“Gonna miss ya, love.” He breathed out low, as if the words were forbidden. He saw the way her eyes softened, a small smile pulling at her lips. You know what I wanna say. He nodded, nuzzling into her hand when he felt it against his cheek, he pressed a kiss to her palm, knowing he was showing her far more affection than he really ever had before. But this mission… this one was different. “I know.” He said quietly before he started to untangle himself from her. He cleaned her up gently before he tucked her back into bed and finished redressing. He gave Sam a good scratch behind his ears before he walked out the door. “Protect ‘er while I’m gone.” He murmured low before he shut the door, the dog’s eyes watching him go.

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Master List

Main Characters: Simon "Ghost" Riley, Melissa (Civilian OC)

Supporting Character(s): Johnny "Soap" MacTavish / Sam the Dog

Synopsis: Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Overall Warnings: Canon character death. Mentions of abuse/past abuse. 18+ Smut/Sex/PinV/Creampie/Plan-B. Questionable mental states. Grieving. Angst.

Ending: Happy (kind of open though).

Chapter 1: The Topic of Love <- Posted

Chapter 2: The Call of Duty <- Posted

Chapter 3: The Cost of Duty <- Posted

Chapter 4: Bad Coping Mechanisms <- Posted

Chapter 5: The Alternative <- Posted

[wildmtthyme]

What is Love? Baby, don't hurt me.

Simon doesn't believe in love. He thinks it's the greatest lie ever told, experience has taught him that. Not personal experience, but experience nonetheless. Never mind the fact that he's in a long-term relationship. Never mind the fact that him and his girlfriend live together. Never mind the fact that they have a dog. All of this doesn't matter until he's confronted with that very topic he hates so much. And then his world is tipped upside down when his best mate is KIA. Simon is forced to take a hard look at his life afterwards.

Master List can be found here.

Chapter 1. The Topic of Love.

Warnings: Cynical ideology. (Is that really a warning?) Mentions of abuse/past abuse.

Chapter 2. The Call of Duty ->

They were sitting in the living room of his flat, Simon sharpening his knives- with him leaving in the morning, he knew he needed to make sure they were ready to go. Every now and again, he’d glance up at her. His… well, he felt silly even thinking the word ‘girlfriend’. Melissa was… well, she lived with him but he didn’t often think of the flat as theirs. He wasn’t entirely sure why. Her stuff was here, it didn’t bother him. She picked out some of the furniture, that didn’t bother him. She did most, if not all of the grocery shopping, that didn’t bother him either. She had even gone out and got a damned dog while he was away on a particularly long mission- that hadn’t bothered him either… even if the dog hair tended to get God-damned everywhere. Sam was a good dog, a shepherd mix from the shelter that thought she hung the moon. He was also fiercely protective of her and it did bring Simon a certain amount of comfort knowing that he was here with her whenever he was away- which was a lot.

It was a pleasantly warm, sunny afternoon… she had thrown open the windows in the flat, the curtains lazily moving in the breeze… she was laying lazily on the couch with a book. He wanted to be more… in it with her but he knew that he just didn’t have that in him. He cared about her safety and he didn’t mind her being around him… but he knew there was a vast crevasse between them that he refused to cross. He was still distant, he was still cold to a certain extent, and he knew that his standoffishness sometimes hurt her feelings. But… that’s who he was and she knew that when she got in this with him three years ago. He focused back on his knives.

He had just slipped the last one back into the sleeve when he heard her softly call his name. He glanced up, realizing she’d set her book down and had been looking at him, watching him, in that soft way of hers. “Hn.” He was wearing his lightweight, at-home, balaclava- the skull print was very light on this one- some screen print that she’d done for him. You know I love you, right? He blinked at her. He was sitting there at the small table beside the window, not in front of it because that would be stupid, but beside it against the wall… his gear spread out on the floor around him. The corner of his mouth twitched as he stared at her. She was waiting for some kind of response from him. She had never actually said those words to him before and he wasn’t sure what she was expecting him to say in return. He felt… off kilter, and he didn’t like it.

“No, you don’t.” He said simply, his attention shifting back down to the holder with his knives, starting to roll it up and ready it for packing. Excuse me? He didn’t look up. “You think you do but it’s not real.” He bent down and tucked the roll of weaponry into his rucksack. He heard a scoff come from her direction. Yeah, okay. He blinked and paused, glancing back up at her as she opened her book back up and went back to reading. Her words, few that there had been, were dismissive. He sat back up and tapped a cigarette out of his pack, one lighter flick later, he was drawing a heavy lungful of smoke in before exhaling through his nose, the plume of smoke gathering around his lap.

“Love is an illusion.” He pressed… for some reason, it bothered him that she dismissed his words so easily. Sure, Simon. She sighed the words, as if he were being some kind of petulant child! His brow lowered as he felt anger lick at the back of his mind. “People say that bullshit all the time and they don’t mean it.” He pointed at the window with index and middle when she glanced up at him but didn’t lower her book. “Right now, people out there are professing their so-called love after they just beat the shit out of each other or using it as a reason to shoot some sod in the fucking head.” She quirked a brow at him and his hardening tone. You think I’m going to shoot you because I said I love you? He ground his teeth. “You know that’s not what I fucking meant.” He took an aggressive drag off his cigarette and ashed it harshly. “People use love as a fucking excuse, it’s not fucking real. They’ll say it and stay in a shit relationship where they’re treated worse than dirt because they love their partner. They’ll accept it as a reason to get beat, to get cheated on, to get thrown around. They’ll let it trap them, keep them, reduce them to nothing.” His tone kept getting harder and harder until he was damn near yelling at her, leaning forward in his chair, doing everything to keep himself seated.

Finally, he crushed the cigarette out roughly. She dog-eared her book (something he fucking hated) and closed it, setting it on the table beside the couch as she stood up. Okay. She fucking shrugged and walked out of the living room and into the kitchen, where he heard her grab a pot and heard the water running.

The fuck?! He was sitting there with a flabbergasted look. Fucking okay? That’s all she had to say in response to everything he just told her!? Before he could stop himself, he was on his feet, following her into the kitchen. “Fucking, okay? That’s it?” He couldn’t help it. She needed to fucking understand this particular point.

He watched her set the pot on the stove, turn it on to boil before she faced him and leaned her hip on the counter. She was wearing some house shorts and an old band shirt of hers, not his. Yeah, okay. She gave him another lift of her narrow shoulders, folding her arms loosely over her mid-section. You can have your opinions, Simon. But, it’s not going to change the fact that I love you. You can rail against it all day long and all night and hell, until the end of time. I can’t control how you feel, I can’t make you love me back. Just like you can’t make me not love you. That’s the only really shitty thing about love. And the thing I think you really can’t stand about it. Yeah, all of what you said may be true but the real issue I think you have with it is simple. He cocked a challenging brow at her, folding his arms over his chest, his boots standing shoulder-width apart. You can’t control it. If you love someone, you just do. It happens all on its own and there’s nothing you can do about it. Now… whether or not you stay with that person, that you can control. I’m with you because I want to be. The fact that I love you is its own thing. And I didn’t tell you that so you’d feel any kind of guilt or… obligation. But before you leave… I wanted you to know that I do love you. He clinched his jaw tight, his eyes snapping in anger again at those words. So, when you’re out there and things get fucked… I don’t want you thinking that you’re in this shit alone. He swallowed thickly and felt the corner of his mouth twitch. She wasn’t emotional, she wasn’t teary eyed… she wasn’t hurt by what all he said and she was being honest.

“I have a team.” He heard himself say. “I’m never in this shit alone.” He saw the way she pressed her lips together and heard her quiet sigh. Yeah, I know. She turned away then… and that’s when he saw the first and only sliver of hurt. And he saw it for what it was. He felt like he’d literally just brushed her aside though he hadn’t gotten near her. That… that’s what hurt her. He watched her open the fridge and start pulling random (to him) ingredients out. Dinner’ll be ready at six. He heard those words for what they were. Her quiet, soft way of telling him to leave her alone. It was rare that he ever actually hurt her feelings… but when he did, she wouldn’t rail at him… not like he did… no, she wouldn’t cry or scream or yell… she’d just get… quiet. And that was somehow worse. He left the kitchen quietly, passing Sam in the doorway as the dog brought himself to her, drawn by her sudden shift in attitude, no doubt.

Simon spent the rest of the late afternoon and evening packing, ensuring that his gear was in order. Swapping random texts with Johnny and Price over what all was needed… what wasn’t… the usual. Except this mission wasn’t the usual and he knew it. He never talked to her about his missions… he didn’t want that shit in her head. He wanted to protect her from that side of his life. She made him carbonara… one of his favorites. They ate quietly… low murmurs of his appreciation and that he thought it was good, her thanks and whether he wanted to get takeaway for dessert. He didn’t. She said that was fine. He tried to get her to let him do the dishes… but she ignored his insistence.

When he climbed into bed that night, her having already gone to bed a few hours before him… he felt… unsettled. It wasn’t like they had a routine whenever he went on missions but… he didn’t like leaving whenever they were at odds with one another. It was rare, but it happened. And though they weren’t fighting, per say. He still felt… off. He rolled towards her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into him gently as to not wake her. She still woke up, she was a light sleeper. Hmm? You… you leavin’ already? She was groggy, her mind still clouded with sleep. Though she was a light sleeper, she trusted him enough that she’d stay just beneath the layer of consciousness where she wasn’t quiet aware of what time it was.

He pressed his face into her neck and took in a deep breath. “No, go back to sleep.” He murmured low and felt her curl up a little more, wrapping around his arm. He, in turn, curled around her. She was so much smaller than him, which wasn’t that hard, but still… it never ceased to amaze him sometimes. He ran his hand up and splayed it over her sternum, feeling her heart beat slow and steady. Knowing she loved him… hearing her say it… that was one hell of a burden. It was a responsibility he didn’t want. He’d seen people get destroyed for love.

His mother, for one. Love ruined her. And he knew, as much as he tried, as much as he hated the fact… that he was his father’s son. He had that meanness in him… that’s what allowed him to do what he did, to be as good as he was at his job. If he allowed that meanness to bleed over onto her… he held her a little tighter, hearing her sigh heavily in her sleep because of it. If he allowed it to bleed over onto her… her love would make her stay, just like his mother stayed with his father. He knew when this started that it had been a horrible idea to get into a long-term relationship… but it had all just… clicked, so damned easily. They just… worked. He could be mean sometimes, he wouldn’t mean to be that way, it’d just come out. Or, he wouldn’t even mean it that way but the tone of his voice would just tilt too far into that tone and whatever he was saying would come out mean.

But she had always been able to tell whether he really meant it or not. And if he did, she’d always warn him that he was walking a line. She’d give him a chance to reign it back in. She was always so damned understanding. His muscles all started to go loose as realization dawned on him. How long had she fucking loved him? His mind flashed through all the times he’d been unnecessarily cruel… mean… sharp… and all the times she’d just dealt with him, accepted him, eased him through things, been so damned patient. So many times, where she should have walked away and didn’t. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and let out a heavy breath. Was he already ruining her?

He nearly jumped when he felt her hand reach up and fingers comb into his hair… he never slept with his balaclava on here at his flat. Yer thinkin’ could wake the dead, Si. He sighed heavily and nuzzled into her neck again. “Sorry, love.” That endearment that he used struck him dead center in his chest. But she didn’t seem to notice, he only ever used it when they were in bed or he was fucking apologizing for something. Sleep, baby. He felt some of the ice that encased his heart thaw, just like it always did, whenever she called him that. He nodded and forced his mind to stop the laps around the abstract idea of love and what it did to people. He had to leave early and he needed to sleep. And he knew that this was going to be the best sleep he was likely to get for a good long while.

[wildmtthyme]

Sheets . 2 Chapters . Posted . 5926 words

Summary:

She looked confused. “I don’t understand?” "Nae, you don’t. We won’t be doing that tonight or any night." She blinked at him. “But… what… what about what Joffrey said? He… he said—” "Aye, I heard what that cunt said and it don’t make a shit difference." She wrung her hands and felt her stomach twist itself into worrisome knots. “But…” She took another few steps towards him. “The marriage won’t be legal unless—” "Then it’ll never bloody be legal!" He near roared at her. Or... Sandor and the eldest Stark daughter are forced to wed. An interesting wedding night ensues. It's a trope, yes but I'm a sucker for tropes!

Notes:

Shifting POV. First Morgana (and I know I reuse OC names, I can't help it. I like what I like.) and then Sandor. Admittedly more Sandor POV, I just love writing him.

AO3 Chapter Navigation Link

[wildmtthyme]

It's finally done. :)

A Tale of Two Brothers | Complete | 23 Chapters [50,788 words]

Summary:

His eyes locked with this girl’s… no, not girl. She wasn’t a girl but to him, she was at least ten years his junior. He heard the droning of the King and Eddard but he was too… distracted. In every single since of the word. Her eyes were so blue… so incredibly blue. And her hair was so blonde that it was almost silver. Never mind the golden crap that these shits sported. No… hers looked like it was made of starlight. Like she wasn’t even real. She looked away first, having to for the King was demanding her undivided attention. Or... Sandor meets Catelyn Stark's niece and falls hopelessly head over for her. The only problem? His brother seems to be of a like mind when it comes to Aislinn Tully. What transpires is a relationship that stretches years and dynasties both between a woman trapped in a world where she has no choice. The men in her life must earn every inch they gain and Sandor is left feeling as if he is reaching for the stars.

Notes:

Note the warnings at the beginning of each chapter. General warnings include: expect canon-typical violence and misogyny; mentions of rape/attempted rape/attempted assault. So, please, watch for the warnings. Will add more tags as chapters are posted.

AO3 Link to start of the story.

Navigational Link to Chapter Index.

[wildmtthyme]

A Tale of Two Brothers | In Progress | 23 Chapters [18 Posted]

Summary:

His eyes locked with this girl’s… no, not girl. She wasn’t a girl but to him, she was at least ten years his junior. He heard the droning of the King and Eddard but he was too… distracted. In every single since of the word. Her eyes were so blue… so incredibly blue. And her hair was so blonde that it was almost silver. Never mind the golden crap that these shits sported. No… hers looked like it was made of starlight. Like she wasn’t even real. She looked away first, having to for the King was demanding her undivided attention. Or... Sandor meets Catelyn Stark's niece and falls hopelessly head over for her. The only problem? His brother seems to be of a like mind when it comes to Aislinn Tully. What transpires is a relationship that stretches years and dynasties both between a woman trapped in a world where she has no choice. The men in her life must earn every inch they gain and Sandor is left feeling as if he is reaching for the stars.

Notes:

Note the warnings at the beginning of each chapter. General warnings include: expect canon-typical violence and misogyny; mentions of rape/attempted rape/attempted assault. So, please, watch for the warnings. Will add more tags as chapters are posted.

AO3 Link

Chapters 1 - 18 posted. Updated every Wednesday & Sunday.

Chapter 1. This Can't Be Young Aislinn Tully!

Chapter 2. What Would He Do With It?!

Chapter 3. Why, You Might Be In Peril...

Chapter 4. A Dog Whose Bark Is Worse Than His Bite?

Chapter 5. To Be Favored By Such A Monster.

Chapter 6. This Arrived During The Night.

Chapter 7. Bring Forth The Traitor!

Chapter 8. We At House Clegane Are Most Gracious.

Chapter 9. Rest. Lady. Wife

Chapter 10. You Are A Demon, Gregor.

Chapter 11. I Will Try To Kill You Once This Is Over.

Chapter 12. Tell Me Your Thoughts.

Chapter 13. Sunrise

Chapter 14. With Papa

Chapter 15. Do Not Tell Me To Shush, Gregor Clegane!

Chapter 16. What Of Aislinn.

Chapter 17. You Don't Mourn Your Husband's Death?

Chapter 18. I Have Loved You Everyday.

[wildmtthyme]

A couple of headers for a few upcoming works I'll be posting once I'm done with the current in progress story over on AO3. (❁´◡`❁) GoT will be on AO3 but I think I'll put the CoD one over here on Tumblr. And yes, I know Judgement is still sitting there with cobwebs all over it. (⌐■_■)

[wildmtthyme]

Road trip. Washington to Texas. T-Minus 30 minutes. Yes, we're leaving at 2 am pacific time. Because we're insane. And because the husband wants to get to the great salt lake before 5 pm. 🤷‍♀️ So, we're off to see the wizard.

[wildmtthyme]

“How’s your WIP going?”

"Have you made any progress?”

“How close are you to being done?”

[wildmtthyme]

Updated :D Chapter 1-7 are now live with another update being posted on Sunday (7-20). The next chapter is a doozey.

A Tale of Two Brothers | In Progress | 23 Chapters [3 Posted]

Summary:

His eyes locked with this girl’s… no, not girl. She wasn’t a girl but to him, she was at least ten years his junior. He heard the droning of the King and Eddard but he was too… distracted. In every single since of the word. Her eyes were so blue… so incredibly blue. And her hair was so blonde that it was almost silver. Never mind the golden crap that these shits sported. No… hers looked like it was made of starlight. Like she wasn’t even real. She looked away first, having to for the King was demanding her undivided attention. Or... Sandor meets Catelyn Stark's niece and falls hopelessly head over for her. The only problem? His brother seems to be of a like mind when it comes to Aislinn Tully. What transpires is a relationship that stretches years and dynasties both between a woman trapped in a world where she has no choice. The men in her life must earn every inch they gain and Sandor is left feeling as if he is reaching for the stars.

Notes:

Note the warnings at the beginning of each chapter. General warnings include: expect canon-typical violence and misogyny; mentions of rape/attempted rape/attempted assault. So, please, watch for the warnings. Will add more tags as chapters are posted.

AO3 Link

Chapters 1 - 7 posted. Updated every Wednesday & Sunday.

Chapter 1. This Can't Be Young Aislinn Tully!

Chapter 2. What Would He Do With It?!

Chapter 3. Why, You Might Be In Peril...

Chapter 4. A Dog Whose Bark Is Worse Than His Bite?

Chapter 5. To Be Favored By Such A Monster.

Chapter 6. This Arrived During The Night.

Chapter 7. Bring Forth The Traitor!

[wildmtthyme]

Short little cross-over drabble that popped in my head the other day while I was playing Destiny. :P 141 x Guardians x Some kind of crazy dimensional vex interweaving thing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Don't ask me, I don't make the rules!

Drabble Title: Well, Shit.

Warnings? Um... warzone? Fighting? Gunfire? Game typical stuff.

Ghost POV. Featuring one of my many hunter OC's in typical hunter fashion. :P Unedited because of course it isn't.

-*-

Lightning was arching all over the damned place as they made their way across the battlefield. And it was. A battlefield, that is. Yeah, they’d been debriefed but that didn’t help them any. The team had initially had a plan for infiltration of the base but it had gone to hell right quick and in a hurry. Simon could hear Soap grunting over the coms as he slammed into a nearby building, being thrown by another explosion. Price’s strained voice over coms told him that the Captain had gone through another narrow miss himself. These fuckin’ scientists and their fuckin—Gaz cut off, a rapid popping of gunfire from the base’s enemy soldiers filling the air instead of the man’s voice. It was like someone flipped a switch at some point and turned the whole damned place into a big Jacob’s ladder. Simon could feel the hairs on his arms standing on end even beneath his compression shirt!

“The fuck!” He barked out of pure human instinct as he slid down onto his hip, feeling the air sizzle around him. The wind whipped up and he swore he felt like he got hit with a fucking truck! A blast of purple light erupted around him and he landed hard in the dirt. He wasn’t down but for a moment before he felt a hard hand on his shoulder jerk him back onto his feet, his eyes widened as he was set back onto his boots, a slap to his back that nearly toppled him over! Keep your boots under ya, Guardian! A man’s voice that was way too fucking happy sounded off… his eyes following a man that was wearing some kind of exo suit or armor or… he had no idea but there was another blinding flash and he was just fucking gone!

Ghost! Ge’down! He ducked sharp, tasting metal in his mouth as another round of pops went off. The fuck was that! Gaz’s voice was filled with alarm and something cut into their coms. –ex on the right, guess they don’t know when to quit, right? Followed by a chuckle, a different man this time. Price’s voice next. Anyone else see that? There was a crack in the air before he swore it looked like a miniature missel flew across the field, cutting through smoke and lightning before it vanished. Nice shot, Dace! Their coms lit up with a few jeers of random people. Soap’s voice came over next. Our channel’s compromised! Price followed up. The electricity’s gotta be fuckin’ with it. Simon slid down beside a low wall and was about to peek over the edge when he felt a weight slam against the wall beside him.

He turned expecting to see Soap but froze for a heartbeat, blade palmed in the next. He felt a slender hand clap against his wrist the one after that and another lift up, finger gesturing over where her mouth would be… if her face were bare. She was strong. Much stronger than she should be. Easy there, Hunter. He blinked at her. Skull. Nice. He blinked again. Quiet type, huh? She shrugged and lowered his hand for him. He couldn’t look away from her, even as she peeked over the wall. So, what are we waiting on? She looked back at him and he just… he couldn’t fucking speak for a moment. Um… hello? Ghost?

That made him shake himself out of his stupor. “A clear path.” He growled out. Obviously, this was another operative that had gotten separated from them. Never mind her weird ass gear. Oh, so you can talk. He ignored that. He inched up to look just as she was doing. She gestured with index and middle across his face. Don’t know ‘bout you but I’m going that way. She clapped him on the back then. See ya on the other side. “What the fuck.” He growled and reached after her when she fucking climbed over the wall. And… was she wearing a fucking cape?!

Who the fuck is that? Price growled over coms and he just growled in general. “Some stupid fucking rookie.” He charged after her, not feeling like he had much of a choice. She’s gonna get herself killed! Soap this time. He was keeping up with her hunched over form for a moment before she darted ahead, sliding like she was sliding home until she was ducking into another building. He hissed and had to double time it. “Rook. The fuck do you think you’re doing?!” He barked after her. The woman glanced over her shoulder and stood up fully then, a fucking hand canon in her hand. She held it up and let it fall back against her thigh as if she were disappointed in him. The hell, man? I thought we agreed… I was gonna go this way… and you- he internally jumped as she swung it so nonchalantly across her body and into the open doorway she was standing beside and fired it, an enemy insurgent stumbling and falling onto the floor between them, in front of her… and she didn’t even look at the guy, her focus still on him! -were gonna go off the other way? We had a deal, man. She was standing there as if they were not behind enemy fucking lines!

“No. No fucking deal.” He growled, forcing himself to ignore her blasé attitude. Oh, I see what’s going on. She shifted her weight and wagged her finger at him, her tone couldn’t have been more… inappropriate for where they were!!! You’re freshly risen, aren’t ya? Well, don’t ya worry your pretty little head, just look to me for the changes and you’ll be golden. And watch yer flame, don’t want ya to burn out. She turned around then and jumped slightly like she was startled. He didn’t see… he lifted his gun but he was… for once… too fucking slow! He blinked as he watched the enemy combatant that had turned into the hall fall with her knife sticking out of his face! That’s a change-up. Keep up, Hunter! He blinked again and she was already down the hall pulling her knife out of the guy. He clinched his jaw and dashed after her.

There was no fucking way this woman was a rookie. No way. He fell into line right beside her and damn, she fought like she had been fighting longer than he had! Between her canon, her knives, and her rifle… she was… damned impressive. But she had a mouth on her! And she didn’t ever seem to be serious! And… she also didn’t seem to respond to their coms. They were by the doorway to the main building, on either side of it in fact. She was just about to turn in when he grabbed her shoulder and shoved her back. “No, we wait.” She did that stand-up straight thing again, as if she were annoyed with him. Wait for what? You’re really starting to cramp my style.

“I don’t give a fuck. We wait for back up.” She barked a laugh out at him and let her head fall back, her hood falling off and revealing the rest of her mask. Honey, I am the back up. He wasn’t amused. Who the fuck is this? Price said as he trotted up, both Soap and Gaz quick behind him and all three of them a little out of breath. The woman rolled her neck and looked at his team… but her weight shifted and she visibly looked between them, holding a hand out as if to stop them. Whoaaa… not a place for you three. Price’s brows shot up. Fucking excuse me? The woman shook her head and slapped her gun down into a fucking holster on her thigh and folded her arms over her chest. Vanguard business. This is not a place for civilians at all. The three of you need to get back down to the city.

Simon was… confused. “The fuck are you talking about?” It was his turn to stand-up straight, facing her more pointedly. A disembodied voice suddenly sounded off around them, her radio more than likely. Uh, I don’t think any… of them… are guardians. The woman looked between them all again and the silence that hung for a moment before she looked at him the longest. Oh shit. Price took a charging step towards her. “Oh shit is right. Now who the—” He was interrupted by a lot of yelling coming out of the building. Time seemed to slow… but it only seemed the way.

Simon looked but all he saw was a lot of red flashes… the barrels of guns going off. He was tensing, readying to roll out of the way… he saw Soap, Price, and Gaz all doing the same… but the woman… the woman was shoving them all! She moved… so fast… she threw herself in front of the doorway! Her shoulder facing the gunfire, her watched in minute horror as he was shoved back… Price landed in the dirt, Gaz rolled and Soap did much the same. A bullet dinged off her mask… which he realized wasn’t a mask at all but a fucking helmet! Ahhhh fucking hell!!! Her voice came out strained as she went down on a knee before she seemed to erupt… there was a crack like a whip… and she had a gun in her hand, lifted up in the air before she fired into the building… six shots going off rapidly, her cape flaring out behind her, also on fucking fire! Before she went dark… and went down…

Simon was panting heavy as the smoke started to clear… it was silent inside the building but… she was lying there… motionless. Price was waving his hand around… and Soap was doing the same. The fuck was that… all four of them leapt back, guns lifting when a small light flashed and a floating orb fluttered in the air. Gentlemen. If you please, give her some room. They… just stared at it. And there was a warmth in the air suddenly. Not heat… but… warmth. Like… light… it seemed to rain down on her coming from the little thing.

And then they all jumped again because… she coughed… and then groaned. Damn thing. Simon watched as she climbed back onto her boots… dusting herself off lazily almost. Thanks, Ghost. Soap spoke then. He didn’t do anything. – You’re welcome. The little orb spoke at the same time that Soap did and silence reigned. The woman tugged her helmet off… a cascade of silver hair fell around pale skin… vibrant silver eyes flittered between them all before landing on Simon. She pointed at him slightly. Ghost. Simon just nodded.

Then she laughed… she laughed good and loud and long… pointing between him and the little orb, who he swore narrowed its small light at him. It zipped at him then, getting right in his face… giving him a look up and down before it seemed to huff. *I’m* her ghost. It vanished then in a flash of light… while she worked on sobering. She was wiping her eye while she still chuckled a little. Ah… ah hell, now that… that’s funny. She just walked off a few steps. Zavala… come back. Her smile faded and her brow furrowed a little. Zavala?... Crow? Ikora? Anyone? She glanced back over at the four of them before her shoulders dropped just a little. Well, shit.