the losing card i’ll someday lay && Private, Sahl

[muddymutt14]

Soap blinks somewhat, his gaze softening at that frown. Yikes. Perhaps he shouldn’t have even his usual self. He leans back, glancing at the forward-facing soldier. A dull, exasperated sigh escaped the captain. ”No, not directly from anyone. Makes sense, they likely think I’m dead,” He muses, voice entirely monotone.

[sahloknir]

Roach nodded. It would be the same for him. He couldn't really expect someone to call when they didn't even know he was there to be called. He stayed quiet a couple minutes more, then carefully continued. "Do you know where any of them are? If... if they're still... y'know." For the most part, he was concerned about Price and Ghost's whereabouts.

[muddymutt14]

”Y’know,” that word caused him to frown, which was becoming a common expression for the soldier. Were they alive? Yes, and it did no good to keep Roach in the dark. Curling his hands together, and laying them down on the table, Soap nodded. ”Yes, Price and Nikolai are at Credenhill. As for Ghost? Uhm, I’m not entirely sure but I have a hunch. I’ve uh, heard about a very fire-loving young man that got recommended by his Command to go to a psych ward, that may be him. So, I guess you want to pay them a visit, Sarge?”

[sahloknir]

Roach felt his stomach stirring as Soap shifted and he leaned forward in anticipation of any news. He relaxed as Soap spoke and the corner of his mouth twitched up. He was concerned for Ghost but still was incredibly relieved they were still alive. He breathed a little easier and his hands relaxed, spreading over the armrests of the chair he sat in, rubbing the sweat from his palms. He straightened up, "Uhm, yes. I do. When we can. Of course."

[muddymutt14]

He would likely cause a stirring in the American’s stomach  again as he fumbled, making motions such as someone smoking a cigarette. His eyes, tired and exhausted, fell empathetically on his soldier.  His voice was that of a gentle correction, ”When you can, Sergeant Sanderson.”

[sahloknir]

Roach furrowed his brows in confusion, his head gave a slight tilt as he watched the captain. "What do you mean?"

[muddymutt14]

Roach never got subtlety. He supposed this would have to be said in a obvious manner. He watched as Roach tilted his head like a dog, and his own brows furrowed, though in a trying to stay strong manner. ”I don’t, I’m not seeing them. Price and Nikolai betrayed me, and well, not sure how happy Ghost would be to see me.

[sahloknir]

Roach was a little more than confused, but less so about meanings now and more about what happened when he was stuck in a coma recovering. His eyes narrowed, the scrunching of his brows looking more like frustration or anger than confusion now. "Betrayed you? Price?" Everything was possible, of course, but the thought of Price betraying Soap was the least believable thing he could hear about the aftermath of the war. MacTavish wasn't one to pull something as sick as a joke like that, and he'd never done Roach wrong before (in the young soldier's view, at least), so that only led Roach to believe exactly what MacTavish said. "A-as for Ghost... he would be thrilled to see you, Captain. Why would he not?" Was Ghost a bit on the... 'not-right-in-the-head' side? Of course, but which of them weren't at this point? Ghost would be coherent enough to recognize Soap and Roach held no doubts that he would be at least a little happier to see their captain.

[muddymutt14]

Soap watched his soldier through hurt eyes. His unusually icy gaze seemed to shatter, seeing the way that Roach appeared angry and hurt. Because the innocent one didn’t think that could happen, that it was even a possibility. MacTavish tried to think of s joke, maybe pull something out of nothing, give him a little hope. The Scotsman couldn’t. His jaw ached, and he had to force a word out. “Yessir. He... he left me to die.” His tone was fractured, a whisper. Because, a father leaving their son to die was messed up, it screwed with his head. He remembered what had happened— the explosion, telling Price to leave him, yet he knew deep down he wanted to be saved. And then being left on that table as shots fired around him. He shut his eyes, right, before opening them again, and forcing himself to stare at the Sergeant. The tall man’s eyes were almost stony, glazed over, even as the subject of Ghost was brought up. It was very true that Ghost was more than a bit crazy. But, even as Roach thought, they all were. An exasperated sigh escapes the Captain, “He might be. But Ghost... he might think... I uh, I wasn’t fast enough helping you two.” His voice sounds like it wants to crack, but his position doesn’t change.

[sahloknir]

Roach shifted in his seat again, glancing away from Soap. It was hard to look at his captain now, he looked so hurt. That made two of them. He swept a hand over his face, sighing heavily as he tried to process what Soap said. It was hard to believe, but did he really know Price as well as he thought? He shook his head, glancing back at Soap. "If he did then... then, I guess that's that. I didn't think he could, but..." he faltered, squinting. Tears threatened to fall and he was usually more emotional than his fellow soldiers, but even this was a little ridiculous for the American. "Forget it. Ghost wouldn't think that. He would just be happy you're still alive, Soap. A-and I don't blame you, either. For what happened. That wasn't on you."