Simon Ghost Riley 'Tough Love'

Advised Discretion

"What's next?"
I ask price with a hint of urgency

"Trying to get this finished or are you trying to get away from something?"
He says with a small laugh

"More like someone"
I raise my eyebrows

"I see. well, the only thing I have left for any of you to do is obstacle-"

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Uh... nothing I suppose. Follow me"
He motions his hand for me to follow behind. Alejandro who was standing next to him has an expression of amusement on his face, but he quickly follows behind us

"I will warn you, discretion is advised. Last time Soap was out of practice he sprained his ankle. Sadly for him I forced him to work with it because otherwise we wouldn't have the best sniper for our mission. He understood after a month or so, but before that it was nothing but frustration from him"
Price explains

Im not going to sit here and lie, picturing Soap in pain from a sprained ankle while on the field makes me feel bad for him. But luckily for me, I can go without practice on a variety of things and it looks like I never took a damn day off

"You doing alright Adira?"
Alejandro whispers to me, making me slow down a bit to reply

"Why do you ask?"

"In case you've forgotten you just got off a mission of being held captive for four days, and you're already on to the next. I never got the chance to properly ask you"
I can hear a sense of concern In his voice

"I can handle it Alejandro, don't worry about me"
I give him a small smile as my eyes flicker to the ground

"Answer the question"

Why me

"I'm okay, Alejandro. I promise. I've been through worse, and done more for less. Plus, nothings more exciting than a little danger"
I smile, quickening my pace to catch up to price who's ahead of the both of us

Alejandro stops in his tracks, staring at me with a shake of his head from astonishment as I walk away

"Here we are. So, there's three brick walls lined up. The first one is five feet, second six, and the last seven. You have to jump and scale all three of them in 18 seconds without falling off even once"
Price points to the walls, explaining exactly what I need to do

Right when I take a step forward to the wall, heavy footsteps come from behind me. I just want to shut my eyes and tune them out, but
I can't

"Be careful, I sprained my ankle last time"
His Scottish accent making his words sound more of a joke than anything

I turn around with a relieved smile
"So I've heard"

"Even the part where I was forced to work with it ay?"

"Builds character"
I say sarcastically, shrugging my shoulders in response

"Bloody right about that"
He laughs as a smile tugs at his lips

"Well, show us what you can do"
Alejandro says with a reassuring nod

I line myself up in the center of the brick wall, focusing on one thing and one thing only. Proving myself, to myself. Proving that I am better than my father could ever be.

Without a second thought, I sprint forward. My feet lifting up high as I jump over the first wall. Then the second, and finally, I'm coming closer to the third. I can't lie and say I don't have a small person in the back of my head saying "you won't make that."

Fuck that

I swallow my pride and get out of my thoughts, returning my focus back to the wall as I jump over, steadily landing on the ground. I stand up straight as I take a deep breath in, relieved that I am still stronger and better than what my father thought I could be.

"bueno, maldita sea"
Alejandro lets out a laugh

"Looks like you have some competition. Don't sprain your ankle"
Price smiles, tapping him on the shoulder in a sarcastic reassurance

"Very funny price. Very funny"
Soap says unamused to him, turning to me with a smile as he rolls his eyes

"I believe in you"
I say with a smile

•••

Soap completed the wall course surprisingly well, and no ankles were sprained. Gaz and Ghost were no where in sight, ghost most likely yapping about me to him. After all, people talk, and it is what it is. If Ghost talking about me to Gaz helps him not be an ass, I'll gladly let him to prevent myself from punching him.

I stand next to Price and I hear a phone ring. Alejandro reaches into his pocket and looks to us before answering

"Rudy?"
Price asks

"Someone else"
He gives a light smile before walking off to take the call

"Any guesses?"
I ask Price curiously

"A few. Come on, let's go inside"
He tilts his head towards the base

"But what about training?"

"Don't you worry about that. We'll work on that later"
Price assures as he motions me to walk with him

"So, anything new on Tchort?"

"I think you gathered all the information we need Adira"
He laughs

"When do we find them?"

"He's looking for us as much as we're looking for him. He's a big threat, so the location on him is needed but not a concern yet. He has about thirty to forty hours before getting close to our base, if he finds it that is"

I let out a stressed sigh, Price immediately picking up on it

"Everything alright with you?"
He asks as he stops in his tracks and I stand in front of him in return

"I'm just a little overwhelmed that's all"
I give him a reassuring smile as I bring my gaze anywhere else than his. He knows something's up

"That's not something I hear often"
He says confusedly

"It's just frustrating in all. Missions back to back. I know this is my job, and I'd do damn well anything and everything for it as I've shown. But I won't lie and say that Ghost hasn't been a pain in the ass lately"

"That sounds about right. It will pass, don't think too hard on it"

We continue walking and walk inside the base where Ghost, Gaz, Soap and Alejandro stands in the kitchen talking to one another

I can already feel a headache coming on, not bothering on staying in the living room. Alejandros eyes in slight confusion come to mine as I turn to the right and head down the hallway, and find myself heading straight my room. A shower, fresh clothes, and a short nap to reset is exactly what I need after today