Las Almas, Mexico
ARZALEA 'SILK' BLACKWOOD

A LOUD GUNSHOT ECHOED in my room, ripping me awake as I fumbled in bed, tangling my sheets. In my haste to move, I somehow managed to fall off the bed and land on the floor with a harsh thump and groan softly, my cheek pressed into the floor.

Son of a bitch—

A knock came on my door and I sat up quickly. My eyes scanned the room to look for the person who shot the gun, only to see no one. I then realized the gunshot I heard was just a dream. A motherfucking dream. I must have thought the knocking was a gunshot. Damn. Shaking my head, I rubbed my sore elbow that took the brunt of my fall and slowly hauled myself across the room to my closed door.

I swung open my door and paused when I saw who was on the other side.

Ghost.

My eyes involuntarily ran over his form, noticing that today he wasn't wearing his normal tactical suit. No. Today he was wearing tight black long sleeves, that hugged his torso in a way that I was almost jealous of. And he had on a pair of normal jeans paired with his black combat boots. On his hands were those skeleton gloves and I wondered for a moment, where he got them from. Not gonna lie, they were pretty cool.

I snapped my eyes back up to his face and was met with his normal mask. Again, I wondered if he ever took that thing off. Did he sleep with it on? Did he shower with it? That would be kinda odd if he did. How would he wash his hair? Did he even have hair? I wonder if he had s—

"You're late," His tone was slightly raspy, his accent thicker than usual. A tall tell sign of his annoyance, I guess.

Late? Late for what, my period?

When Ghost saw the confusion on my face, he elaborated. "You were supposed to be in the conference room twenty minutes ago,"

I quickly leaned back into my room and looked at the clock beside my bed. 12:50pm. My eyes widened slightly, and I looked back up to the towering man, his dark eyes staring into my soul with a look that screamed murder.

Why was he so upset? It wasn't like I slept in on purpose. After Soap left my room last night, I was out like a light, exhausted from all the crying and drama I went through. I must have fallen into a damn coma though, because I never sleep this late. I mean, I'm not a morning person by no means. But I usually get up way before the afternoon hours.

I have no excuse.

"Right, let me get dressed—"

"Five minutes,"

I feel a sense of dajvu wash over me and my eye twitched, I gave him a sweet smile that was obviously forced. "Yes sir,"

And I slammed the door in his face. That shouldn't have been as satisfying as it was, but damn it felt good. In a flash, I moved across my room to get dressed, moving at an inhuman speed. He wants fast? I'll give him fucking whiplash. Damn man and his lack of patience. I thought we had gotten past the rude behavior, but I guess after his questions with John, he was pissed off or something.

Hell, I don't know. I never know with Ghost.

Once I was done getting dressed, I opened the door and stepped out. I didn't miss the way his eyes trailed over me before he looked up, meeting my gaze. "That was fast,"

"You said five minutes,"

Ghost eyed me carefully, "Indeed I did,"

"Shall we?" I moved past him and started walking in the direction of the conference room.

I could hear Ghost's heavy footfalls behind me, only causing me to pick up my pace. The quicker we got to the meeting, the quicker I could get away from Ghosty boy and those damn curious eyes that seemed to stare into my soul.

"What's got you in a rush?"

I didn't look at him. "You said I was late,"

"Yeah. I didn't mean you had to practically sprint to get there,"

I only ignored him, which caused a heavy sigh to pass his mask-covered lips. It was obvious I was avoiding him. Avoiding my problems was something I was rather good at, and right now, Ghost was the biggest problem I was facing.

"Tinkerbell,"

Why was this conference room so far?

"Tink,"

Oh my god. Just keep walking. Shut up and keep fucking walking.

"Goddammit, woman, answer me!"

I was forced to a sudden stop when a large hand wrapped around my elbow, my heart jumping to my throat from the unexpected touch. I reacted quickly, spinning around to slap his hand away. I point a finger up at him, hovering it so close to his damn face, I almost poke his eye. "No!"

The look in his eyes is the one of surprise, he blinked slowly. "Did you...did you just talk to me like I'm a fucking dog?"

Did I? Yes, yes I did. And I'll do it again. But instead of saying that, I settle with, "No?"

"Is that a question or an answer?"

"Both?"

Ghost paused for a moment as I asked another question with an answer. For a fleeting moment, I swear he looked amused. But as soon as the emotion came, it was gone, and he went back to that normal stare he usually gives everyone.

"You're avoiding me,"

Quick and to the point. You know, sometimes I appreciate it when someone is blunt. It can be a breath of fresh air when a person doesn't beat around the bush and just says what they are thinking. But right now, I really don't appreciate it. Not at all.

I feigned innocence, giving him my best-confused stare. "Avoiding you?"

If you ever need a lesson on how to gaslight, hit your girl up, because I'm practically a pro at this point.

"Don't act dumb. You think I haven't noticed every time I step into a room, you suddenly have to leave?" His voice was low now, like dangerously low.

My body heated from the sound of it and I had to fight the urge to fan myself. Why was it so hot all of a sudden?

"Did you just call me dumb?"

"Yes?" He asked, taking a note from my book. Oh, this fucker.

"Why would I be avoiding you, Ghost?" This time I steel him with a look, hinting to him with my eyes that I knew everything, and he needed to fess up.

The look in his eyes shifted. He looked back at me, seeming as if he were telling me this is a trap and I know it. I tried not to cackle like the wicked witch of the West as various amount of emotions danced in those brown eyes before he settled with indifference.

"I have no idea what you're talking about,"

I let out a scoff, throwing my hands up as I spun on my heel to walk away. "Respectfully Sir, you're an asshole."

"Watch how you talk to me, Sergeant."

"I said respectfully."

Again, he stopped me, but this time he pulled me closer. The sudden proximity knocked the breath from my lungs, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from inhaling. I could smell his unique scent in the air, and all I wanted to do was close the distance and take a big ass whiff.

Fuck I had issues.

"Clearly you know about my time with John," And again, with the bluntness. "What are you hiding?"

This motherfucker—

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and narrowed my eyes at him. It was silent for a moment before an Idea formed and I held back a smile.

"You wanna know what I'm hiding?"

Ghost tilted his head and tipped his chin for me to continue.

"This is hard for me to admit..." I sighed quite dramatically, my face going slack as I looked up at him with the most innocent look I could do. Ghost noted the expression, his own growing serious. "But I feel like now is the time to finally tell you..."

Ghost was actually eating this up, his eyes taking on a hint of dare I say...concern?

I look around before gesturing for him to come closer with my finger. I curled it a few times and bit back a grin when he leaned down to my height. I leaned up, hovering my mouth where I thought his ear might be before lowly whispering. "I'm...Batman."

I then proceeded to lean back, eyes looking up at him seriously. "Justice..." I whispered again, lifting up a hand and forming it into a fist in front of me, warrior pose style. "For Gotham..."

Ghost stared at me for one, two, three seconds before his eyes fell shut and he took in a deep, heavy breath. He then exhaled a sigh, "Fuckin' hell..."

I bit on the inside of my cheek harshly, suppressing the smile that wanted to tug at my lips. I kept on my serious façade, eyes staying locked with his as we took on a silent standoff and I could admit out of all the annoying things I had said or done to Ghost, this one was by far my favorite.

He looked so done with my shit, and I was living for it.

"Do you ever take anything seriously?"

I pretended to think for a moment, "Uh, only on Tuesdays."

"Adorable," Ghost deadpanned, taking a step back, and this time he was the one to walk away. "I don't have time for your shit,"

I quickly followed behind him, actually enjoying the fact I was getting under his skin. "But you asked! I was only giving you the truth."

Ghost mumbled something so quiet under his breath that even my enhanced hearing couldn't hear him. Unbothered, I smirked to myself and followed him the rest of the way to the conference room.

Arzalea Blackwood – 1. Simon Riley – 0.