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acrimsoncurse · 10 months

Text

Loose Ends - '09 Campaign Ending Rewrite

pairing: Simon "Ghost" Riley x Gary "Roach" Sanderson (Platonic)

word count: 1,500

warnings: character death, military violence, guns, angst tehe

summary: What if Ghost was the one alive at the end of the '09 campaign instead of Roach?

additional notes: I have brain rot still from the original '09 campaign and I'm still upset about how it ends. This is also cross-posted on ao3!

“Roach! I got you covered, go go!” Ghost waved just before he adjusted his hand on his weapon. “Watch for the mortars!” He warned as he shot off a few rounds, glancing around him before he made a run for another tree for cover. They were being compromised, the tree line being overtaken. They had to get out and Roach was far faster than him, it would be easier for him to be covered than for him to cover Ghost.

He flinched ever so slightly at the explosion followed by a yell behind him, taking a glance back and his eyes widened behind his sunglasses. “Roach!” The fire drowned out his own voice as he called for the other man. There wasn’t a second thought before he ran for him, sliding down the rest of the hill and going for him. A fear settled deep in his chest at that moment.

Gloved hands grabbing at his vest to pull him out of the way the best he could. Completely deadweight and Ghost having to really use his all to pull him. “I’ve got you Roach, hang on!” His rifle fell to his side now as he pulled him back. His light coloured uniform now covered in dirt and blood, unsure where that blood was coming from but there wasn’t much he could do in that moment. Not with the fire that was incoming.

“Roach you’ve got to wake up mate.” He told him, giving him a small shake, “I need your help here.” He couldn’t drag him and shoot but he’d damn well try if he needed to. Ghost had to let go of him for a moment, crouching next to him, aiming his gun and shooting a few rounds off before he turned his attention back to him, patting the side of his masked face. “Come on buddy, you’re not goin’ out from a fuckin’ mortar.” Grabbing a hold of his vest to drag him again and feeling the slight shift from him.

Letting out a breath of relief. Glancing at the treeline that was now being compromised as they grew closer to the landing zone. “Bloody hell.” He muttered as he watched more appear, what he hadn’t expected was for Roach to start aiming, now watching his back as he got them to safety, radioing for the chopper to take aim. It may have been only a few moments before Roach grew heavy again, his head fallen back ungracefully and his rifle no longer gripped tightly in his hands. It’d been enough time for him to be able to get them some sort of cover as he dragged him the rest of the way to the landing helicopter.

Dropping the injured man as carefully as he could so he could reposition. Grabbing at his arm, “Roach come on, wake up mate!” This time it was more of an order, while concern still settled deep within him at least he was alive. That’s all he could ask for right? Even if the crimson stains grew in size.

“Come on! Get up Roach! Get up, get up!” He hauled Roach to his feet as he slowly came to, getting a footing of his own but leaning his body against Ghosts. His arm wrapped around his midsection while he brought Roach’s arm around his neck. His gaze shifted towards the ramp as it started to open.

No man left behind.

“We’re almost there. We’ve come this far, don't drop on me now.” Ghost spoke, was it to bring Roach back into the present or was it to bring a sort of comfort to himself? The two moved forward as Shepherd started to exit and approach them. Any acts of professionalism were small, his concerns on the man who was even quieter than himself. “Do you have the DSM?”

Glancing between the two, he could feel the warmth of the blood seep through his own gloves. “We got it sir.” Nodding.

A faint chuckle had been the only thing Ghost had heard for a second despite the blades overhead. “Good, that’s one less loose end.” Shepherd's hand reached over and placed itself on Roach’s shoulder.

Ghost’s brows furrowed behind the mask, “We need a medic stat. Sandersons been—” It happened fast. With little time for Ghost to react, a split second and it had all happened and there had been nothing Ghost could do. He hadn’t expected a betrayal by any means. A pistol was brought from Shepherds side, aimed and fired. The bullet went straight into Roach’s midsection, sending him falling back from impact. ”NO” The words escaped his mouth just as quickly.

Whatever hold the two men had on one another was no longer there, hearing the thud of Roach’s body hit the ground beside him, loud groans of pain. Ghost reached for his rifle, taking aim and before he’d been able to fire he felt a sharp pain as he realized Shepherd's pistol had now been pointing at him. The pointblank impact caused him to stumble back, sending him off balance and falling in a fashion similar to Roach’s. Sunglasses clattering off his face and cracking just out of reach.

“What the—'' He groaned, feeling liquid start to seep underneath the fabric. For a brief moment he was Simon Riley. No longer Ghost, that fear from prior coming back like a wave that he couldn’t swim away from. Gasping for air that had been knocked out of his lungs, trying to process what happened. Roach. Turning his gaze to the other man who had very little movement, opening his own mouth in an attempt to find his voice as he watched Shepherd take the DSM without a care, a hand on his wrist that was easily ripped away… What was happening? Trying to speak but nothing came out, the one damn time he needed it too. Watching as Shepherd took leave and attempting to move through the pain that was blurring his vision, or were those tears?

“All targets destroyed” “Solid copy. No movement detected. 2-6 going into holding pattern”

He could hear the radios of the Shadows who approached, picking up Roach and moving him without a damn care in the world. The man no longer conscious. Every bit of him wanted to order Roach to stay awake, to fight the pain, to _stay alive._ But what was Ghost doing? Succumbing to it as well? The flaring pain paired with the lack of oxygen. This was it.

Feeling himself get picked up before he followed Roach’s move of blacking out. Only to reawaken when he hit the ground just as hard, if not harder. Being thrown close to Roach and…No movement. His chest not moving underneath his gear, his eyelids remained closed, fabric stained red. Something caught in his throat, not again… Not again this wasn’t happening again.

“Ghost! Come in!! This is Price! We’re under attack by Shepherds men in the boneyard! Soap! Hold! DO. NOT. TRUST. SHEPHERD. I’ll say it again! Do not trust Shepherd!! SOAP! GET DOWN!”

His radio still worked but the energy it took to reach for it, and Shepherd knew he was still alive. Meeting eye contact directly with the American as his men dumped…gasoline? On them… Gasoline. _No… No no no. Simon MOVE._ His body remained there, feeling heavier than it did when he found his family.

“I never liked the damn mask. Makes you look like a fucking asshole.” Shepherd took a drag of the cigar before he effortlessly tossed it onto Roach’s unconscious body.

”Roach” He choked finally, the scent of gasoline suffocating and the sight of the flames pained. Watching as they got closer to him, Shepherd and the Shadows having made distance by that point.

Get up. Get up! MOVE SIMON!

Their uniforms were only so resistant to flames and only pieces of it was. Ghost was covered in gasoline, any attempt to get near would result in it spreading to him as well, “Roach…Come on Gary if you’re still there you gotta move.” He tried as he had no choice but to pull himself away with what energy he could muster up. A shitty attempt at waking him up but what more could he do? There wasn’t enough time to get rid of any soaked fabric he wore. Unable to do anything other than to slide as quickly as he could out of the grasp of the flames, drenched in gasoline and watching his comrade burn, he could do nothing about it.

“Price, this is Ghost.” He paused, out of breath and needing more than just a moment but not having that option, “Shepherds gone.”

Another pause, “Roach was KIA.” Attempting to not let his voice falter but failing to do so as he glanced at the flames from where he had crawled to.

“Fuckin' hell I'm hit!! Shepherd’s tryna get rid of us. Do not trust any of them. Do you copy? Do not trust any of Shepherds men”

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