Chapter Text
Soap walks out of the barracks, messing with his clothes, trying to get them to feel properly, stressing out because they’re not lying down correctly and it’s too tight on one side but he can’t adjust them to fit him like they normally do “Fuckin’ finally you’re ready.” Soap’s head snaps to the side, hearing Ghost’s voice. “Well it takes time to look good, not everyone looks as flawless as ye LT.” Soap teases while still trying to fix his shirt.
Ghost presses away from the wall he was leaning on, “Hey Soap, are you alright? Something wrong with your clothes?” Soap sighs, “Yeah, my shirt’s being weird and too tight on one side but when I fix it, it just slides right back and it’s driving me crazy”. He keeps tugging at his shirt, getting moments of relief but his shirt still isn’t touching him right.
“Need some help?” Ghost offers. “That would be appreciated LT, thank ye.” Soap has one more futile attempt and then turns to Ghost. He tugs it and helps adjust the shirt, finally making it settle correctly. One of the tugs is a little stronger than expected and Soap stumbles into Ghost. “Yer a chancer Lt. but thank ye, feel a lot better,” Soap says, rolling his shoulders as a way to get comfortable again after the mess of his shirt. “English Mactavish.”
“Thank ye, sir, for yer assistance, however, don’t push yer luck, ye numpty fuck.” Soap replies sarcastically, knowing that Ghost understood the intent behind what he said but loves to annoy him because of his accent. “Ye ready to have some fun LT or are ye gonna be a sourpuss and just drink some bourbon,” asks Soap once he’s ready to go. “Bourbon’s good, not that you would know, you beer-chugging freak” Ghost answers, having gone through the banter every time he goes out with Soap.
—-- - —-
Once the two catch the shuttle to the nearby town, they settle down for the 20-minute ride, sitting together. “Oi, ye muppet, relax. No one’s here to be looking at ye.” Soap says, trying to relax Ghost. “Johnny, we both know that I’m not relaxing while our lives are in the hands of a stranger whos driving a heavy vehicle that they barely understand.” Ghost remarks back.
The duo chat softly between themselves during the ride and get off at the final bus stop, with Ghost tightening his jacket’s collar and Soap re-adjusting his scarf to combat the temperature change. Ghost asks “Which bar should we go to, the Brass Bull or Goose’s Liquors?”. “Really LT, yer asking me if we should go to the dirtiest bar I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some horrid ones, or the nice, good-vibes, and clean bar whose owner has Scottish beer just for me? Yer aff yer heid, Goose’s of course.” Soap replies, leading the way to Goose’s and opening the door, “Lassies first.”
“Go fuck yourself Johnny” Ghost replies while walking in and waiting for Soap. “Ye big bairn, too much anxiety to talk to others?” Soap teases while walking in after Ghost and taking in the ambience. The bar is dim and homey, filled with relaxing music and the low voices of others enjoying their evenings and getting at least a little drunk. “Hey, it’s my favourite Scot and his bone friend! Nook or bar for you two? And yes, I’ll grab you a Tennent's Lager John, don’t worry I still have some.” calls out Goose, the owner and best bartender in Kesfolk. “Nook works great and thank ye Goose. I’d go mad if it weren’t for ye,” replies Soap, leading Ghost to an open booth near the back.
After settling down a bit, Soap asks Ghost “Yer normal two shots o’ bourbon?”. When Ghost nods in confirmation, Soap goes up to the bar to order after “‘Ey Goose, how’s the husband doin'? Two shots o’ neat bourbon, me’ beer, and a short gin and tonic please.” “He’s doing great, he’s been prepping for his college finals but he already has a job offer up for him.” Goose replies while pouring out the drinks “Go take the shots and your gin and tonic, the beer will be here waiting for you.”
Soap grabs the drinks and sets the shots down at their table in front of Ghost. “Here ye go mate, yer shots o’ dirt.” Ghost accepts his drinks and moves them around a bit. “Thank you Johnny, but I’m going to be honest, I didn’t think you were much of a gin drinker” Ghost says while adjusting his mask to be able to drink. “Am not but eh wanted to try something new, got the spoons for it all so I’m going fer it. Wait a moment, still have to grab me’ beer.” Soap replied while straightening his back and walking back to the bar.
“Thank ye Goose and have a lovely evening,” Soap calls out while trading his beer for the money that’s owed and walking back to his table. Johnny teases, while sliding into his side of the booth, “Ye miss me yet LT?”. “With your overwhelming presence? Never noticed you left me Johnny. Now drink your beer and let me be in peace.” Ghost quips back, pulling his mask up enough to take one of his shots and before downing it, says “Cheers”. “I’m hurt Ghost, how could ye harm me like that? I thought we were friends,” Johnny replies, faking being hurt to play along.
Johnny stares at Ghost for a moment but then snaps back to reality and starts sipping at his beer after muttering “Lang may yer lum reek” to himself and starts to think aloud “I still don’t understand how ye can drink shots, they rarely have a good flavour and even if they did, ye practically ignore it. While me’ beer might not be classy, it tastes good!”. Ghost sighs, having had this conversation many times over “I don’t really want to savour it, it's more for the alcohol than the taste.” “Still bloody weird” Johnny mutters and then chugs the rest of his beer. “See, that takes skill, shots are just cause yer a pussy.”
Ghost chuckles “Sure Johnny, I believe you. Are you gonna try your gin and tonic or can I steal some of it from you?”. Johnny replies while standing up “Go wild, Am gonna take out glasses up. Leave me’ some of it though, Ah do still plan on trying it.”. He collects the empty pint cup and shot glass and takes them to the return counter, taking two of the stickers that you can get for returning the glasses you use. Soap then walks back to Ghost and sits down again, the alcohol finally starting to kick in.
“Did ye leave me some drink or were ye a greedy bastard and drink it all?” Johnny asks while stretching out, his bones having stuck together a bit. “You asked so I complied, just drank a bit. Not really my thing, too citrusy” Ghost says while sliding the drink over. Johnny takes a sip and makes a face at it. “Ye were right, ye can really taste the orange in it. How the bloody ‘ell does Gaz drink these.” “That’s a great question for Gaz, I have no clue.” Ghost replies, shrugging his shoulders.
“Oi, ye gonna finish yer shots or nae?” Soap questions, resting his head on the table. “Why, you want it?” Ghost answers, leaning back a little and also stretching. “Nae, just wondering. After yer done with that, want to head back or wander around town? I saw a very nice bench next to the bus stop.” Johnny says sitting up properly and rubbing his eyes. “Bench then base sounds good to me.” Ghost replies then downs his final shot “Ready to head out Johnny? I got our final cups.” “Thank ye Ghost, I appreciate it.” Ghost stands up and takes the remaining glasses away. When he gets back, Johnny gets up and offers his arm “Milady, may ah help ye” Ghost slaps it lightly and asks “Fuck off Mactavish, where’s the bench you were talking about.”
“Yea’, yea’, follow me LT,” He says, leading Ghost out of the bar and walking to the bench he’d seen earlier. However, he notices that Ghost seems to be shivering slightly. “Ye good Ghost? Ye cold er somethin’?” Johnny asks and stops walking. “Yeah, it’s a little bit nippy but I’ll survive.” Ghost answers, feeling a little awkward because he made his Johnny some trouble. “Aye right. Wait one moment LT” Johnny says while unravelling his scarf “Shrink ye giant brit”. Ghost bends down a bit and lets Johnny wrap it around his neck and once he finishes, straightens up. Ghost starts saying “Thank you John-” Johnny interrupts “Oh haud yer wheesht, ye’d do the same fer me and ah’m sure o’ that”.
When they finally get to the bus bench, the shuttle pulls in “Well, guess we’ll have to skip the bench, another time then LT.” Johnny says and the two climb into the bus. Once they sit down, Ghost lets his head drop onto his shoulder and leans into him. “Yer oot yer face, ain’t ye Ghost? Rest up, Ah’ll let ye know when we’re back at base.”