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1899 — Horse infantry, Battle of Talana Hill
The shots fade. Soap is lying in the middle of the field, a bullet wound in his stomach, as he looks up at the sky. Into the blue sky, birds flying around, frightened by the shots and not knowing where to go. But Johnny knows exactly where he is going.
He is dying.
"Johnny," someone beside him says faintly, panting, then coughing.
He smiles — the voice of the one person he loves most. Their love, forbidden and yet it is there.
"Simon," he whispers. Their hands search the grass until they find each other. Their fingers intertwine, slotting together like their hearts.
Johnny turns his head to the left and looks at Simon, squeezing his hand. "We'll meet again," he says quietly.
Simon snorts. "Do you believe in this shit, MacTavish?" he asks and Johnny nods, looking up at the sky again. "Yes, I do. We'll meet again - at a time when we can be together," he whispers.
"I don't know, Johnny, maybe..." he begins, coughing again. "...your faith is enough for both of us," Simon answers quietly.
Johnny squeezes his hand. "Of course. Do you remember when we first met?" he asks him.
"Yes, of course. Do you think it will be the same? If... well, if what you believe comes true?" he whispers very quietly.
"Maybe," John replies, smiling slightly at the fond memory. "You came up to me and I thought, wow, what a guy.... I couldn't think of anything better to say than 'I'll save you a horse, Sir' and I walked away," he says quietly.
Minutes pass, but there is no reaction from Simon. "Si?" he asks, turning his head towards him, but there is no answer, never again. With the last of his strength, he crawls closer to him, lifts their joined hands and kisses the back of Simon's hand.
He puts their intertwined hands on Simon's chest and closes his eyes.
"I love you, Simon Riley and we will meet again," he whispers and slowly falls asleep, forever.
2022 — Base
Simon, in full gear, walks across the base towards the plane. He hears Shepherd talking in his ear. "Your wheels are up in five," he says, and Simon nods, even though Shephard can't see him. "Roger."
“Marines are loading in now. You and the Sergeant are leading this way on this.”
Simon frowns, though it is not visible under his mask, perhaps for the better. "The sergeant?" he asks, but then he sees someone jump off the truck and walk towards him.
“Soap MacTavish.” Shepherd replies.
Ghost looks at the man who is coming towards him, he is almost a whole head shorter than he is, hm, cute. MacTavish seems like a cheerful man and smiles at him.
“Let’s get ourselves a win, yeah, LT?” he says with a smile and punches his fist kindly against his arm. "Save you a seat, sir," he says, turning and walking towards the plane with quick steps.
As MacTavish touches Simon, images flash before his eyes. Simon stands motionless and the images show him... and Soap from another time. Back then, they were already in the armed forces. He sees them training, laughing, kissing and dying together. Ghost doesn't move a bit until the images disappear before his eyes.
Ghost's legs buckle for a moment, but he quickly recovers. "Fucking hell... Johnny," he whispers. "Johnny!" he calls out loud and Johnny smiles slightly, turns at the plane's ramp and walks back towards Simon, who is now walking towards him as well.
"Johnny," he whispers, putting his trembling hands to Soap's cheeks, and Soap grins up at him.
"I guess I was right, eh?" he asks.
Simon laughs softly, it was all so surreal, and quickly undoes his helmet with one hand, then Johnny's. "You were right," he whispers, pulling his mask over his nose and kissing Johnny, his Johnny.
Not forbidden, openly, for all to see.