little soldier
chewing on plywood rn
Barry Sloane as Eddie Wells in Passenger (2024)
â simon quits smoking for you / headcanon & drabble
â â â â â â â `¡ . dead-flight .á masterlist
it took one injury. one, minorly life threatening injury. a knife to the gut, twisted as it was ripped out. fuck, he could taste the smell of blood.
he only remembered the evac, and then the prattling of the cart wheels of his stretcher as they pulled him in for treatment. as simon comes to, the rhythmic beeping of the IV is accompanied by the quiet sobs beside him, the fabric of the hospital gown damp on his shoulder. looking over, his eyebrows furrowing.
he almost drops to his knees there, begs you to forgive him for being so careless when he sees the grief-stricken look on your face. like you'd almost seen your entire future wither away, because you had.
and the way you listened so attentively to the medic as they taught you how to change his bandages--he could've cried.
when he was finally allowed home, you were so careful around him. didn't hug him too hard, didn't let him carry heavy things--you were terrified he'd reopen his wound, that something else would happen to hurt him.
so when you watch him with that same look, that terrified, i-don't-want-to-lose you look, your eyes pleading with him as he steps outside for a smoke, he almost throws the entire pack on the floor.
simon smoked, yeah. he never cared that it'd shorten his lifespan, that he might cause his own death with it... he didn't think he'd even live long enough to see that happen. surely it was more likely he'd be killed in the line of duty than a nicotine stick.
but those eyes made him want to stop. made him careful, made him consider.
simon had never had a future before you, just battle after battle and hopes that one day he'd be killed honourably. but the day you gave him those eyes, he signed himself up for a help program.
because fuck him, if he doesn't do everything he can live for you.
GONE, GONE / THANK YOU
Simon Riley x Reader |Fluff|
The sun has finally started to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow all over Manchester as you stood in your balcony. The gentle breezed ruffled your hair while taking a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of your surroundings. This was your only way of relief, your escape from the chaos of your own life.
You knew you weren't alone on that balcony as you heard familiar footsteps approaching. It was Simon. He stood beside you, his silhouette sharply delineated against the colorful sky. His blue eyes gazed into the distance, and you could sense the weight of his thoughts. Simon was man of a few words, though his actions spoke louder.
"You come here often?" he finally spoke, breaking the comfortable silence between the two of you.
You shrugged, a small smile painted on you lips. "Whenever the world becomes too much."
He nodded in response, his gaze never leaving the view. "I get that."
Once again the two of you stood there for a while, sharing the comfortable silence that you two cherish the most. You and Simon went through so much together, seen the darkest sides of the world, faced so many ups and downs and grew stronger each time. There was this bond between the two of you, unspoken and unbreakable.
As the last traces of daylight fade, you turn to face Simon, eyes meeting each others, and for a moment, you felt like you two were the only people in the world. You reached your hand out to gently hold on to his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath your fingertips.
"Hey" you said softly, "you know you can always talk t'me right?"
Simon's jaw tensed slightly, you can see the hurt in his eyes. Simon was a pro at hiding his emotions, but you had learned to read subtle cues that betrayed his own feelings.
"i know" he responded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Its just hard finding the right words."
You softly squeezed his arm "you dont have to find the perfect words. Just tell me and i'll listen."
He hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh and he finally opened up to you.
Your heart ached for him, for the burdens he carried. You stepped closer, wrapping your arms around him in a gentle hug. He returned the embrace, his grip firm and comforting.
"Simon, your not defined by your past." you whispered your soft reassurance against his ear. "You've saved countless lives, including mine. Your a hero. My hero."
He pulled away slightly, his eyes searching yours. "And what about you? you faced danger as much as i have."
You smiled, brushing a strand of his hair out of his eyes. "im just a regular person trying to make a difference, but having you by my side makes everything less scary."
Simon's lips curved into a smile, as he reached up to cup your cheeks, thumb brushing against your skin. "You have a way of making even the darkest moments seem brighter."
The atmosphere between the two of you was charged with unspoken words, emotion swirling in the space between your bodies.
When you finally pulled away from the embrace Simon's eye held a mixture of suprise and something elseâa vulnerability that he rarely showed. You smiled, your heart swelling with affection for the man who had become your anchor in your world full of chaos.
"sometimes," you murmured, "all it takes is one person to remind you that your not alone."
Simon nodded, his hands still resting against your cheeks. "And your the right person for me."
You leaned to his touch, savoring the warmth that he provided with his hands. You two didn't need grand gestures to elaborate confessions; this moment, this connection said it all.
Both of you knew theres still more challenges to come ahead, but as long as you've got each other, there was nothing that could break the two of you.
And at that fleeting moment, as you stood side by side, the weight of the world seems a little lighter. There was a void you didn't know needed filling. And now that you found each other, that void is filled.
Simon riley x reader | fluff | Warnings: none I was listening to âyour universeâ by Rico Blanco and i canât help but to think about Ghost :(Â
In the shadowed side of dangerous missions, Simon "Ghost" Riley was a beacon of enigma. With a reputation that whispered of mysterious and skillful, he moved through the shadows with a grace that seemed unchallenging. But beneath the tactical facade, even a soldier like Ghost yearned for love that transcended the havoc.
Among the chaos of a world teetering on the edge, You his darling who stood as a brilliant support and light that Ghost found himself uncontrollably drawn to. The danger was always present, but so was the undeniable connection of shared laughter, quiet conversations, and stolen moments of vulnerability. It was a fragile balance, a dance between a fierce commitment to duty and the yearning for something more.
 Ghost found himself seated beside you, your forms illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. The crackle of the campfire serenaded your words, as you spoke of dreams that would exist if you werenât in the military.
âI'll ask the stars above, 'How did I win your love?â
The words were a reflection of Simonâs own thoughts, a feeling he had never dared to voice. His eyes met yours, and in that instant, the veil of invincibility that he often wore shattered, revealing the man who longed for love as deeply as anyone else no matter how he rejected affection.
You two shared a comfortable silence, you never answered his question because you know that deep down he knows the answer. the crackling fire seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the symphony of emotions that lingered between the two of you. Ghost's gloved hand found yours, fingers intertwining as if in silent agreement that the world could wait, just for a moment.
âI don't think that you even realize the joy you make me feel when I'm inside your universeâ you gripped into his hand as if heâll let go.Â
Ghost had always thought that he will never find someone, but you had proven otherwise. In the heart of uncertainty, you had become the steadfast star in his sky.
In a world where danger was everywhere and tomorrow was never guaranteed, you and Simon found a connection that defied the odds. Through whispered conversations and fleeting touches, they formed a bond that transcended the chaos of reality.
Ghost leaned in, his lips brushing against yours in a promise that needed no words. In the constellations of the night sky, amidst the commotion of the world, love had found its placeâa universe between the two of you.
Summary: Simonâs never been great at dealing with feelings, especially when they come out of nowhere. From the moment he laid eyes on you, something shifted, but he did his best to keep it under wraps. Itâs only when Price steps in, playing a little bit of matchmaker, that Simonâs forced to face what heâs been ignoring. Between the awkward tension, the attraction, and a little help from the Captain, maybe theyâll both figure out whatâs been right in front of them all along. From this idea. Word count: 3.2 k
The first time Simon saw you, it was like taking a hit he hadnât prepared for.
You walked onto base with the kind of confidence that made people take notice of you. Not cocky, just like you belonged there. And maybe you did. Maybe you were the best damn soldier to come through in a while, and maybe that shouldâve been the only thing on his mind. But it wasnât.
His eyes tracked you instinctively, taking in every detail before he could stop himself. The way you carried yourself, the focus in your eyes. And then you smiled at someone, and something in his chest clenched so hard it almost hurt.
Fuck.
He tore his gaze away, trying to shake the feeling, but Soap had already caught him.
âOh, this is gonna be good,â Johnny muttered with an infuriating grin on his face.
âShut it,â Simon grumbled, adjusting his gloves like that would somehow ground him.
âDidnât say anything.â
âDidnât have to.â
Soap chuckled, nudging him with an elbow. âJust sayinâ, sheâs got somethinâ, aye? And youââ He gestured vaguely. âYouâre actinâ like a man who just got hit over the head with a brick.â
Simon rolled his shoulders, trying to shake the tension. âFuck off, mate.â
âSure,â Soap drawled. âBut you still havenât stopped starinâ, mate.â
Simon forced himself to look away, hating the fact that Soap caught him. And, he had work to do. A mission to focus on. He didnât have time for⌠whatever this was.
But deep down, he already knew.
It was already too late.
-
At first, you thought it was just you. Maybe youâd done something wrong, said something to set him off. Because from the moment you arrived, Simon had been⌠distant.
And not in the way he was with most people. With you, it felt different, like he was avoiding you. Short replies, barely a glance in your direction, and when he did look at you, it was intense. Youâd catch him watching sometimes, but the second your eyes met, heâd look away like he hadnât been staring at all.
If he was trying to make you feel unwelcome, it was working.
It was frustrating, because everyone else had settled into working with you just fine. Soap had been the first to extend a friendly hand, quickly making it clear that you were part of the team now. Gaz followed soon after, along with the rest of the squad. Even Price had given you one of his rare approving nods within the first week.
But Ghost?
Nothing but silence and cold shoulders.
You tried not to let it bother you, but it gnawed at the back of your mind. Youâd worked with difficult teammates before, but this felt⌠personal.
âWhatâs his deal?â you asked Soap one evening after training, watching as Ghost disappeared into the barracks without a word.
Soap smirked, far too amused. âWho, Ghost?â
âYes, Ghost. The one who acts like Iâve personally offended his ancestors.â
Soap let out a short laugh, shaking his head. âNah, lass, itâs not like that.â
âThen what is it?â
He hesitated, glancing toward where Ghost had gone. âLetâs just say heâs not great with⌠people.â
You narrowed your eyes. âThatâs not an answer.â
Before Soap could reply, Price strolled past, catching the tail end of your conversation. He gave you a knowing look, then turned to Soap. âDonât worry about it,â Price said easily, clapping a hand on your shoulder before walking off.
You stared after him, baffled. Soap just chuckled and patted your arm. âYouâll figure it out.â
You had no idea what that meant. But as Ghost continued to avoid you like the plague, you were determined to get to the bottom of it.
-
A few days later, you found Ghost in the armory inspecting a rifle. If you didnât know better, youâd think he was trying to make himself invisible, shoulders hunched, attention fixed on anything that wasnât you.
Too bad for him, you had a report to give, and he was the one who needed to hear it.
âLieutenant,â you greeted, stepping up beside him. He stiffened, then turned his head slightly to acknowledge you, but his eyes didnât quite meet yours.
âYeah?â
You shifted on your feet. âIâve got intel from the last reconâneeded to pass it along to you.â
Ghost nodded, setting down the rifle. âGo on.â
You started relaying the details, but something felt⌠off. He wasnât cutting you off, wasnât asking follow-up questions like he usually would. Instead, he was just standing there, unnervingly still, eyes fixed on you.
Really fixed on you.
His gaze was heavy, like he was committing every detail of your face to memory. And for someone usually so unreadable, he lookedâhesitant.
âLieutenant?â you prompted when he didnât respond.
He blinked. Looked away. Cleared his throat. âRight. Uh. Continue.â
Your brow furrowed. He was acting weird, more than usual. Like he was barely processing the words coming out of your mouth.
You finished your report, waiting for some kind of acknowledgment. Instead, Simon just nodded slowly, his fingers flexing at his sides.
ââŚSo?â you pressed. âWhat do you think?â
He inhaled sharply, as if just realizing he was supposed to respond. âSounds⌠good.â
You squinted. âSounds good?â
âYeah.â
âThatâs it?â
Another pause. Too long. He was still looking at you, and before you could call him out on it, another voice cut in.
âPerfect timing,â Price announced as he strode in, hands on his hips. âYou two are headed out on assignment together.â
You blinked. âWhat?â
Price smirked. âMission briefing in an hour. Gear up.â He clapped Ghost on the shoulder, giving him a look, then walked out, leaving you standing there, confused.
Ghost finally tore his gaze away from you, jaw tight. âRight. Mission.â
You exhaled, pinching the bridge of your nose. This was going to be interesting.
-
âAlright, listen up,â Price began, his voice steady as always. âThis mission is straightforward. Weâre monitoring a targetâhigh-level intel. We need to keep eyes on them for the next few weeks. No interaction. Just observation and relay.â
He pointed to the satellite image of the targetâs compound on the screen, then flipped to the next slide that showed the layout of the safe house. You and Simon exchanged a glance. The safe house was tiny, just a single building in the middle of nowhere.
âYou two will be on the ground. The safe house is set up, but itâs basic. No room service here,â Price said with a small grin, clearly enjoying the discomfort he knew was coming. âJust enough supplies to get the job done. Only one bed, though. Hope you two can manage.â
You froze for a second, not sure if youâd heard him right. âWait⌠what?â you asked, raising an eyebrow.
Price didnât even blink. âOne bed,â he repeated casually. âThis isnât a luxury vacation. Youâll be monitoring the target from there. No time for complaints.â
You shot a quick look at Simon, whose face was as unreadable as ever. There was no way this was going to be easy. Price, clearly savoring the moment, clapped his hands together.
âGet your gear, and Iâll see you both at the rendezvous point. You know the drillâkeep it quiet, keep it tight. Donât screw this up.â
With a smirk and a nod, Price turned on his heel and left the room. You exhaled slowly, your heart already starting to race at the thought of the situation ahead.
Simon glanced at you, then back at the door where Price had just exited. âGreat,â he muttered under his breath, clearly less than thrilled about the sleeping arrangements.
âYeah⌠great,â you echoed, your mind already spinning with how awkward this was about to get.
-
When you stepped into the safe house, the first thing you noticed was how small it was.
One main living area. A tiny kitchen. A single bedroom.
And one bed.
Your stomach twisted. Priceâs smug look from earlier suddenly made perfect sense.
Ghost stood stiffly near the door, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on the bed. His hands clenched briefly at his sides, but he said nothing.
You swallowed. âIâll take the floor.â
His head snapped toward you, eyes narrowing. âNo.â
You frowned. âItâs fine, really.â
âNot happeninâ.â
You hesitated, then sighed. This was going to be a long mission.
The first day at the safe house was unbearable.
You tried to keep yourself busy, checking supplies, setting up comms, anything to avoid sitting in that stifling silence. Simon was the same, moving around the space, tension radiating from him. He barely looked at you.
Because looking at you was dangerous.
Simon knew himself well enough to understand that much. The more he let himself watch you, the harder it would be to keep a leash on whatever this was. So he didnât. He focused on the mission. On the layout of the safe house. On anything but the fact that he could hear the soft inhale and exhale of your breath in the quiet, or that you smelled like something clean and warm beneath your gear.
It wasnât helping.
You werenât faring much better.
From the moment you arrived, anxiety had settled deep in your stomach. It was one thing to deal with Simon back on base, where there were distractions, other people, space. But here? Here, in this tiny house with nowhere to hide? Every time you moved, you felt him like a weight against your skin.
And you were convinced, more than ever, that he couldnât stand you.
The short responses. The stiff posture. The way his shoulders tensed whenever you got too close. It all screamed discomfort, and it made something twist in your chest. You were used to working with difficult people, but Simonâs avoidance felt personal in a way that you couldnât explain.
By nightfall, the silence was unbearable.
âAlright,â you finally said, crossing your arms. âAre we gonna talk about it?â
Simon, who had been cleaning his knife, stilled. âTalk about what?â
You gestured vaguely around the room. âThis. The fact that weâre stuck here together and you act like Iâve personally wronged you.â
His fingers flexed around the knife. âYou didnât.â
âThen whatâs your problem with me?â
He looked at you then, and it made your breath catch.
âThereâs no problem,â he said finally, voice low.
You huffed, shaking your head. âCouldâve fooled me.â
Simon watched as you turned away, frustration rolling off you. He should say something. He knew he should. But everything he wanted to sayâall the thoughts tumbling in his headâwere things he could never let slip.
Because the problem wasnât you. It was him.
And God help him, two weeks of this might just break him.
-
The air in the safe house was cold when night fell. You stood at the edge of the bed, arms crossed, looking at Simon like you were preparing for a fight.
âIâll take the floor,â you said firmly.
Simon, who was already sitting on the edge of the mattress, let out a slow sigh. âNo, you wonât.â
âYes, I will.â
âNo, you wonât.â
You glared at him. âYou need rest. Youâre bigger than me. Youâll be uncomfortable on the ground.â
He exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was trying to find some patience. âYouâre not sleepinâ on the damn floor.â
You set your jaw, determined. âThen Iâll take the chair.â
 âYouâll take the bed.â
It was a standoff. You, stubborn as ever, refusing to give in. Him, stone-faced, refusing to let you win.
Finally, after a long, tense silence, Simon shook his head. âWeâll both take the bed. Itâs big enough.â
Your stomach twisted. âAre you sure?â
He just grunted in response and moved to the far side of the mattress, facing away from you, shoulders tight. You hesitated, feeling awkward, before finally sitting down on the other side.
Lying down next to him felt⌠strange. Intimate in a way that had nothing to do with proximity and everything to do with the fact that this was Simon. The man who barely spoke to you. The man who looked at you like you were a problem.
And now you were sharing a bed.
You forced yourself to stay still, willing sleep to come, but it was impossible. Every small shift of fabric, every breath he took, every inch of space between you felt amplified in the quiet.
Simon was even worse off.
He had spent years training himself to sleep under any conditions. But this? This was new.
Your warmth, just inches away, was something he couldnât ignore. The rise and fall of your breaths, the scent of you so close, the soft rustling every time you shifted slightly. It was torture. He had to clench his fists to keep them still, to resist the urge to reach out, to let himselfâ
You exhaled softly, a little sigh escaping your lips. His chest tightened.
Thenânothing.
Stillness.
Simon turned his head just enough to glance at you. Your face was relaxed, lips slightly parted, lashes fanned against your cheeks. Asleep.
Something in him softened.
Carefullyâso carefullyâhe let his fingers brush against the back of your hand, just for a second. Barely a touch, a whisper of contact.
His throat tightened as he pulled his hand away, his own pulse betraying him.
Yeah.
He was completely, utterly fucked.
-
Heâd fallen asleep easily enough, or so he thought. At some point, in the dead of night, Simon had woken up.
His eyes flicked over to you, lying still beside him, your face relaxed in sleep. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on your features. The way your breath came evenly, how you curled slightly in your sleepâit was something so innocent, so calm. And yet, it stirred something in Simon he wasnât ready to fully acknowledge.
He tried to force his thoughts away, willing himself to go back to sleep, but it was impossible. Everything about this felt wrong, and at the same time... it felt right.
Then, in one of those moments where the mind is too slow to catch up with the body, you shifted in your sleep, your head moving slowly as if drawn by some invisible force. Before Simon could react, your head was resting on his chest, your hair brushing his chin, your breath warm against his skin.
His heart skipped, and he went completely still, barely daring to breathe. Every muscle in his body tensed as he lay there, frozen, but inside, everything was a mess. His mind raced, scrambling for an explanation, anything to justify this moment. His chest tightened, his pulse hammering. You, of all people, had ended up like this, so close, and he didnât know how to handle it.
He couldnât move. He was terrified of disturbing you, of you waking up and realizing what had happened. But even more, he was terrified of what this meant for him. He shouldnât want you so close, shouldnât want this warmth, shouldnât want the feeling of you there, pressing into him in a way that had him aching with longing.
But he did. He wanted it more than he cared to admit.
So he lay there, forcing himself to stay motionless, eyes staring up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the way his heart was thudding in his chest, trying to ignore how good it felt to have you so close.
But eventually, sleep came in waves, though it was a restless kind of sleep. Simon barely managed to close his eyes, his body fighting the pull of exhaustion, constantly aware of your warmth against him, of the feeling of you there on his chest.
When the first light of morning filtered into the room, Simon woke up again. He blinked, confused for a second, before his eyes landed on you. You were still thereâyour head on his chest, your body curled close to him, as if you belonged there. The soft sound of your breathing was the only thing he could focus on.
He couldnât sleep, and now, he was lying there with you. He forced himself to breathe slowly, hoping that the pounding in his chest would slow down. He didnât know what to doâdidnât know if he should wake you up or let you stay there.
But then, as if on cue, you shifted in your sleep again, your head moving off his chest. He held his breath, hoping you wouldnât wake up and realize where you were. But of course, you did. Your eyes fluttered open, confusion quickly turning into panic as you realized your position. You immediately pushed yourself away from him, sitting up in a hurry.
âIâIâm so sorry,â you stammered, your face flushed with embarrassment. You could barely look at him, your eyes darting everywhere but his face. âI didnât mean to...â
The last thing Simon wanted was for you to feel worse. The reality of the situation was a mess, but he didnât want you to panic.
âItâs okay,â Simon muttered, his voice hoarse from sleep, trying to sound casual, but it came out wrong. His body was still tense from the moment before, from the warmth of you on his chest, and he had no idea how to act now. He wasnât sure if he should feel embarrassed or just accept it as something that had happened.
But he wasnât about to admit that he had been awake the whole time, pretending to be asleep while his heart was in his throat.
You turned to face him, still looking panicked. "I didnât mean toâ"
âNo,â Simon said quickly, his eyes finally meeting yours. âReally. Itâs fine.â
You hesitated, looking at him like you werenât sure if you could believe him. You shifted nervously next the bed, unsure what to do next.
âI didnât want to make you uncomfortable,â you muttered, still avoiding eye contact. "I don't know what happened, Iâ"
Simon tried to act calm, even though his heart was still racing. "Itâs fine," he repeated, though his voice was softer now, quieter. He felt like he was saying it more for himself than for you. âYou were asleep. Itâs no big deal.â
You wanted to say something, but words seemed useless now, as if there was nothing that could make the situation better.
Simonâs mind was a whirlwind, but he kept his face neutral. He had no idea how you felt, but as he sat there in the stillness, the fact that you had been so close, even by accident, had done something to him that he wasnât sure how to process. He hadnât wanted to move, hadnât wanted you to wake up and see it.
âRight,â you muttered, your heart still racing. You couldnât look at him anymore. The awkwardness of the moment was too much. âIâll just... get ready now.â
Simon nodded, his gaze following you as you moved to gather your things. He stayed still, his body still tight with the remnants of that moment, but internally, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He didnât want to acknowledge it, didnât want to admit how much he had enjoyed it. But the truth was, having you that close had affected him in ways he wasnât prepared for.
And the more he tried to ignore it, the more he realized there was no going back now.
PART 2
----------------------------------------------
@daydreamerwoah @nightunite @rigbyscar @kittygonap @buggg4life @tessakate @m-artemisa-c @first-time-fanfic-writer
Trying to prove a point to my divorce lawyer.
I SCREAMED. NEIL ELLICE FOR PRESIDENT
oh my god.
âoh iâm a feminist. i wanna put a woman on top. and on the back, on her kneesâ