Althea was dangerous. She wasn't particularly large or imposing, but once you heard the Whisper of her breath, it was too late. Her ability to sneak around without alerting others, as if melting into the shadows, it scared people.
She was a cold, h...
As they stepped into the quaint coffee shop, a symphony of delightful aromas enveloped Ghost and Althea, instantly washing away the lingering tension from their recent mission. The cozy atmosphere, with its soft lighting and warm decor, provided a comforting contrast to the relentless danger that often defined their lives.
Althea's eyes lit up with unbridled excitement as she took in the array of pastries on display. Her grin was infectious as she exclaimed, "Oh man, I'm almost glad that we can get an extra day off before the next mission."
Ghost turned to her, his own hidden smile evident in his voice. "We're next in line. What do you want?"
Althea's gaze scanned the menu, settling on the most decadent and sugary drink she could find. She pointed to it, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "How about this one?"
He couldn't help but groan theatrically. "You're going to get diabetes."
With a playful roll of her eyes, Althea inquired about his choice. "What are you getting anyway?"
Ghost met her gaze with a deadpan expression. "Earl grey." Althea sighed in mock disappointment.
"I should've guessed." He gestured for her to move ahead in line, and she smiled appreciatively.
Approaching the counter, she offered a friendly smile to the barista before placing their order, all the while aware of Ghost's imposing presence beside her. She couldn't help but think that his imposing height and masked visage made him stand out in this cozy, ordinary setting.
"Hey. We'll get a-" She read the name off of the menu, making him roll his eyes.
"I'll get an Earl Grey with milk and an Apricot Danish." He eyed the treats. "And a chocolate croissant for her."
"Wow. That's real funny."
He raised his eyebrows. "What, you don't want it?"
Althea sighed in defeat. "Are you kidding me? Of course I want it."
With their coffee and pastries in hand, Althea and Ghost found a secluded corner booth, the aroma of fresh pastries and the comforting warmth of their coffee enveloping them. It was a brief respite, a moment of normalcy that both cherished after the intensity of their recent mission.
Althea took a leisurely sip of her sweet drink and let out a contented sigh. "You know, Ghost, this is exactly what we needed after the last mission."
Ghost nodded in agreement, taking a measured sip of his black coffee. "Yeah."
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the jarring ring of Althea's phone. She fished it out of her pocket and saw Price's name flashing on the screen. She couldn't help but sigh as if mentioning the mission had summoned their commander's call.
With a reluctant expression, Althea answered the call, her tone professional. "Price, what's up?"
Price's voice crackled through the phone, carrying a sense of urgency. "Althea, Ghost, we've got a lead on the missiles." He paused before continuing. "I hope you know how to tango."
After leaving the coffee shop, Ghost and Althea quickly made their way back to the base. The sense of urgency was palpable as they entered the meeting room, where their team had already assembled. Althea took a seat next to Soap, exchanging a few whispered words with him as Ghost hesitated, pausing at the chair next to her before choosing the seat on the other side of Soap instead. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at her closeness to Soap, but he pushed the feeling aside, knowing that now was not the time for such thoughts. He needed to clear his mind of her. He should distance himself from her.
The room was filled with a tense silence as Alejandro, Gaz, and Rodolfo, their trusted teammates, sat ready for Price's mission briefing. Price wasted no time, projecting a map onto the screen at the front of the room.
Price began, his tone grave, "We have been tracking Hassan's movements for months now. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our intelligence team and Laswell, we finally have enough intel to pinpoint the location of the missiles."
Price paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. The mission was crucial, and the stakes were higher than ever.
He continued, "Hassan is planning to attend a masquerade-themed party on a cruise in Las Almas. This party will be attended by high-ranking officials from various countries, providing Hassan with the perfect cover to showcase the missiles and make a play for power."
The room was filled with murmurs of concern and determination. They all knew that if Hassan succeeded, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Our mission," Price continued, "is to infiltrate the party, blend in with the guests, and stop Hassan from launching the missiles. Laswell has secured invitations for all of you, and we've already planted a contact on the cruise who will provide you with the necessary details once you're on board."
Ghost's mind raced as he absorbed the details of the mission. Infiltrating a high-profile event like this required finesse and precision, and there was no room for error.
Price's gaze swept over the team, his expression stern. "This is a covert operation. We cannot afford to draw attention to ourselves. Each of you will be provided with a mask and a cover identity. Our objective is to gather information, locate the missiles, and disable them if necessary. You'll have to rely on your training and instincts."
Ghost exchanged a glance with Althea, their unspoken connection stronger than ever. They both knew the mission was dangerous, but they were also aware of the importance of their roles in this critical operation.
Price concluded, "We depart at 1900 hours. Gear up, and be ready to move out. This is our chance to prevent a global catastrophe, and I have every confidence that this team can get the job done."
Soap clapped a hand on Ghost's shoulder and nodded at Althea. "Let's make sure this missile never sees the light of day."
A/N: I was in Chipotle and I had the best idea for this story ever and I'm not even joking I dropped to my knees in the middle of the floor.
Like always, THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!!! I actually giggle and kick my feet when I read your comments every day :) I love it when readers comment on my story!!! I have some very interesting things in store for my pookie wookie spookie dookie bookies ;)))
Also, I had a little time because tomorrow is Columbus/Indigenous Day in America, and I drew Althea because I was so bored (I'm not very good at drawing, don't bully me please) and I wanted to share it because I wanted to see your opinions and how you imagined her.
Here it is:
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HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY EVERYBODY!!!! Happy spooky month!
