Another dichotomy Soap finds is just how jarring it is to wake up from the best sleep he's ever had in the arms of the man he's been obsessed with since they'd first collided. He doesn't slip out while Ghost is still asleep but it's an embarrassingly near thing, largely stopped by the tight grip his Lt has around his middle. He doesn't register drifting back to sleep but the next time he wakes a heavy hand is jerkily stroking through his hair in absentminded movements. It's the best thing he's ever felt. He doesn't want it to end, especially considering the talk that would follow it, awkward at best and soul crushing at worst. Soap doesn't want to lose this, not when he'd just barely got it.
He can't remember what he'd tried to say, something stupid he's certain, but before the first syllable is even out of his mouth Ghost drops the hand from his hair, he doesn't even have time to be disappointed before the same hand is cupping his jaw and the rough pad of a calloused thumb is passing gently over his lips. Soap feels more than hears the quiet, content sigh from behind him. Normally he would rail against being hushed, he's grown goddamn man for gods sakes, but all he can bring forth is an answering sigh as he feels the tension leave his shoulders. Soap doesn't remember falling asleep again but when he wakes up, the bed next to him is empty and he feels a bolt of cold dread before he hears the quiet sounds of a rain shower from the attached bathroom. At his feet on the bed are two sets of clothes. He doesn't feel much like showering, unless it would be with Ghost and that idea appeals to him all too much, so he simply forces himself up. Both of the offerings are Ghost's clothes though one could be considered slightly smaller and Johnny quickly slips them on before he has to explain himself. He sits quietly as Ghost finishes his own routine and no words pass between them as Ghost slips on his own clothes as well as what Soap has dubbed the "around base" balaclava and they leave side by side to get breakfast from the mess to eat in the rec room. And if they stand closer together than would strictly be appropriate, it's no one's business but their own.
Johnny grabs his bag of arugula from the communal fridge as Ghost gets up to follow him, snagging a couple of strawberries from Gaz's side of the fridge to loud protest. There's somewhat if an awkward pause at his door and he can see doubt start to well in Ghost's eyes. Can't fucking have that, Soap decides.
"I wasnae lying when I said it's a mess."
"S'alright" Ghost replies quietly, angling himself to leave.
"But if you want ta come in you can meet mah wee babes?" He offers. "Course got a couple snakes wouldnae want to make you uncomfortable, Wee Man is a big bastard but I promise yeh he's-"
"Ok."
Blue meets brown and there's a momentary heavy silence before Soap nods and reaches to unlock his door.
It's surreal, seeing Ghost in a space he's dedicated himself to keeping Ghost-free. At the same time it feels so right, like a missing piece he'd just realized was gone. Soap stands by the door as his Lt moves forward into the room, partly for a ready escape and partly because neither of them are small men and it would get very cramped very fast.
"What eats that?"
Soap sits there for a long moment blinking dumbly before he realizes Ghost is pointing to the arugula in his hand.
"Oh uh this is for the lizards, blue tongue up there named Yzma and the Beardie next to her, her name's Freya" shortly after receiving Yzma the skink he'd been able to hook up a home for Bart the leopard gecko and even quicker after that ended up with Freya, an 8 year old leatherback bearded dragon. "They also need some bugs, hope you don't mind roaches."
It's an awkward dance to get past Ghost to his closet and it ends with Ghost sitting cross legged on his bed for which Soap isn't complaining. It's easy, slipping into prepping the salads with easy familiarity. Ripping greens into smaller bites for the baby skink and slicing the strawberries as a treat. As he preps the salads he finds himself talking at Ghost as he usually does, unsure if the man is listening but not necessarily needing him to. He talks about his childhood and his Da's reptiles, Martha and Bowser back home, he talks about his first snake bite from a wild grass snake he'd found when he was 10. He talks about his rescues as he rummages around in the dubia roach bin for the right sized bugs, talks about why he does it and a little about each animal as he dusts the bugs with calcium powder. Soap undoes the lock on each cage, dropping them in and smiling as the lizards jump after them, before relocking the tanks and turning back to face Ghost, startling at the intensity in his eyes.
"You really love them don't you." It's more of a statement than a question but Soap answers anyway.
"Aye."
"And he's the one who bit you?" Ghost looks a little unsure nodding towards the corner of the big tank where Wee Man is barely visible curled up amidst the plants.
"Och it's a stupid story, poor lad just has shite depth perception s'all. He's the friendliest fucking snake though I'll tell you what. "
"Friendly?" Soap's heart hurts at the confusion in Ghost's voice.
"I know you haven't really had a...good experience with snakes but I promise most of them are the sweetness things."
Ghost looks deep into his eyes for a while before turning back towards Wee Man. They sit in silence for a long moment before Ghost nods minutely.
"I'll try." He turns back to Johnny. "For you I'll try." Johnny feels a weight in his throat and can only bring himself to nod.
"Thank you."
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I'm so excited and proud of this boy. He's just getting better & better. Today he ate some mustard greens for the first time, didn't even skip eating a day or two to protest first. Ate a full third of the greens I put down. So he got roaches as a reward & was SO quick to zoom over when I showed him the bowl. Chomped them all down in no time!
And as you can see, he's shedding!!! Already gotten a bit off the neck. The rest of his body is getting dusty looking, so will be joining the party soon.
I'm just so happy about him today.
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