Thread by @saraornottt

#soapghost #ghostsoap💓(CW: fluff, night terrors)

When they first start dating, Ghost makes it a point to never stay over. He always goes back to his place even when his eyes are red and droopy from exhaustion. Soap doesn’t really understand why. 1/24

He often begs Ghost to stay – even buys him a toothbrush to store at his place. But it is never enough to make Ghost reconsider.

One day, they are watching a movie all cuddled up in bed. Ghost’s head is resting on Soap’s rising chest. 2/24

Not out of the ordinary, Soap makes comments throughout the movie. He points and asks and laughs while Ghost merely murmurs or nods against his chest.

After another comment goes unanswered, Soap looks down and takes notice of how still Ghost is. 3/24

His fingertips twitch slightly against Soap’s thigh. His breathing is slow and steady.

He is fast asleep.

Ghost had said he had to go home tonight, that he couldn’t stay over as always. But Soap can’t bear to wake him. 4/24

All he can find it in him to do is turn off the tv and observe the quiet Ghost below who has never looked more content, never looked more at peace. 5/24

As gently as possible, Soap runs his fingers through the soft hair before letting them slide down his neck, then down his shoulders and onto his back.

His thumb gently rubs his spine as he silently hopes it won’t wake him so that he can enjoy it for a little while longer. 6/24

It doesn’t take long for Soap to rest his head against the headboard and let himself be whisked away by the blissfulness that is sleep. Sweet dreams fill his head as he cuddles himself further into the warm body below.

But it doesn’t last. 7/24

Thrashing and sobbing stir him awake in the middle of the night. A sudden shift on the bed and a loud thud have him alarmed.

He opens his eyes in a panic and finds Ghost on the floor, back shaking against the bed as he heaves and cries into the silent night. 8/24

“Simon, what’s happened?” He asks as he crawls across the bed and places a gentle hand on the trembling shoulders.

Ghost flinches – the touch of soap so suddenly there. He whisks his hand away but says nothing. Words seemingly impossible as the sobbing worsens. 9/24

Carefully, Soap drops down onto the floor and sits down next to Ghost. For a long time, that’s all they do. They simply sit in silence as Ghost cries into his knees which are now pressed firmly against his chest.

Soap doesn’t know what to do. 10/24

He doesn’t know how to comfort him.

“I don’t know what I can do to help besides tell you that I am here.”

Ghost lets out a deep breath, desperately trying to get his breathing under control.

“I’m sorry.” 11/24

It’s a whisper, but somehow, it feels louder than any sound he’s ever heard in his life.

“Sorry for what?”

Ghost dries his eyes and then finally straightens himself up, pushing his head onto the mattress behind him in the process. 12/24

“I… I don’t want you to see me like this.”

The words hang in the air for a moment - and then it finally clicks.

There is a reason why Ghost never stays over. There is a reason why he always declines no matter how enticing Soap makes the offer. 13/24

Ghost is scared – scared of what the night always entails.

He is scared that Soap will see him broken and undone. Perhaps he is even scared that Soap will stop loving him if he sees how fragile he really is. 14/24

“If you think for even a second that /this/ could scare me away, then Simon Riley, I don’t believe you understand at all just how much actually I love you.”

Their eyes finally meet. The deep red meet the calm blue. 15/24

He watches Ghost’s expression change from anguish to apprehension.

“I can’t… ask you to live with something like this.” Ghost says with a finality in his tone. “I don’t think it’s ever going to disappear.”

Soap leans in and cups Ghost’s face. 16/24

He can see the pain it causes, but he needs it. He needs Ghost to understand.

“You don’t have to ask me. It changes nothing. Do you hear me? I accept all of you. There’s nothing you could say or do that’ll change that.” 17/24

And that was the end of it. Ghost doesn't argue. He doesn't fight it. The sincerity in Soap’s voice tells him everything he needs to know.

So Ghost begins sleeping over a couple times a week. Every time another nightmare. 18/24

All Soap does is soothe him in any way he knows how. It takes some figuring out what calms Ghost down the most. But Soap takes it all in stride.

As time passes, Ghost begins sleeping over every night. His things begin appearing in the drawers, in the cabinets. 19/24

Every other week, a new item finds its way into the apartment.

And more often than not, the two don’t wake until the morning light creeps through the curtains. The long nights now so peaceful and quiet. 20/24

But when the night terrors do come, Soap finally knows what works the best.

“Simon, rest your head here,” he says one night to a trembling Ghost.

He nods and rests his head on Soap’s lap. “Which one do you want tonight?” 21/24

Ghost hums for a little while, contemplating. “Pride and Prejudice…”

Soap lets out a small chuckle. “/Again?/“

Ghost traces his hand across Soap’s knees, tickling his skin with his nails. 22/24

“… I like the voices you add to it while reading…”

Soap leans down and presses his lips on the top of Ghost’s head before opening the book. 23/24

“It is a truth universally acknowledged […]”

He lowers his voice with every turn of the page until the only sound left in the room is that of Simon’s peaceful snores. 24/24

/end.