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"It's a nice spot." Ghost wondered when Argent had found this place, but it must have been chosen deliberately. It had a beautiful view, not too far away from the ship but still nice and secluded enough that they probably wouldn't be desturbed unless someone came specifically looking for him.

He was looking forward to relaxing a little, he knew he tended to work too much. It wasn't that the was taking a day off, per se, but there wasn't a reason to call on him very often so it would be very coincidental if someone would want to do so now. So unless there was an emergency, his work could wait.

"What did you bring?"

"I can't wait to see what you came up with this time." he replied, smiling at the younger man. Argent must have really put a lot of thought into this.
Well, of course he had. He had made his intentions quite clear the other day, it would have been surprising if he had just left it at that and waited for a hopefully positive answer.

Ghost had thought about their previous conversation too, of course. And while he still couldn't be sure ... it was true what he said as well; he truly wasn't averse to the idea.
He did feel ... drawn to Argent, that much he was certain about. Even more so the more he thought about it. So why was he hesitating?

"What is it?" Taking the offered fruit and sauce, he eyed it for a moment with interest before doing as Argent had suggested and dipped a piece of fruit into it. The taste was surprisingly more sweet than he had anticipated, and he closed his eyes for a moment to fully savor the taste. "This is probably the best thing I've ever tasted."

Of course he had heard about honey, but never actually tried it himself. Fascinating that there was something so similar on this world. He could definetely get used to it.

"I definetely does. The fish is really good too, you're quite good at this. Cooking, I mean." he hummed. If Argent ever decided to become something else than a soldier, running the mess hall would definetely be a good option. "I have to say the fruit is my favorite though, it's really sweet."
He hadn't been aware that he liked sweet things so much. funny. Well, not that he had had much opportunity to explore his ... culinary tastes before.
"still, they say most foods taste wonderful in the right company, isn't that so?" It might have been just something nice to say, or a first step towards the other, but it almost felt .. natural.

"I suppose I do." Ghost laughed. "What about you though? Though I gotta say your cooking is way more enjoyable than rations."
Which was true. And he really could get used to it.
"I wouldn't mind you cooking for me more often."
How selfish of him. Maybe there really was something about Argent that was fundamentally different than the others. Of course he knew the basic concept of being ... romantically interested in someone. That said person seemed a lot more ... important than everyone else. In a way. But could he really indulge in something like that then? Wasn't he supposed to care about everyone the same?
Then again, so had Aren. Maybe he could be a little selfish too.

"Yeah, I do." he replied truthfully, not minding the sudden closer proximity at all. Not that they hadn't gotten close before, during training. But that was different.

He sighed softly. Argent was truly perceptive, he'd grown a lot from the stubborn, closed off kid he'd been. Maybe that was why. But not only. It was hard to miss that he'd also grown into a quite strong young man, and easy on the eye. Sure they all were in some way or another, but he found that he ... particularly liked Argent in that regard. It would be so simple to just lean against his shoulder, there was not that much space between them ...

That wasn't the only thing of course. Argent was sweet in his own way, a lot like Ghost himself and yet different, probably the reason they matched so well, didn't they? He liked having someone around who was so focused on him, too, even if it made him feel selfish.

"I have been thinking, since the other day."

"Are you trying to bribe me?" Ghost chuckled softly, but took the offered fruit nonetheless.
He really found he liked sweets.

"But yeah, I did. And maybe I'm just being too careful. No matter how much I think about it, I do enjoy being close to you. I don't think it's just ... friendship. But I'm the Operator, I shouldn't have favorites."

That's what it all came down to, in the end, right? "If I did, what if I had to choose one day? Between yous or someone elses safety? Or the safety of the colony? I know what I would have to do, but I don't think I could." That's why he had never even considered getting close to anyone. But with how effortlessly Argent managed to tear down those carefully constructed walls, layers upon layers of safety measures built to stay neutral just by being there? What could he do, really?

Ghost couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
He took the cue though and tipped his head to lean against the younger mans shoulder, looking out at the scenery below. It sure helped that Argent was taller than him, and it kind of felt ... like the right thing to do.
"But you would have to promise me. That you'll always come back safe."
He couldn't do this otherwise. He had seen what loosing the one he loved most did to Aren, and he wasn't as strong. there was no way he could deal with that. Losing friends and comrades in the war had been bad enough, sometimes he'd thought he might be too soft, had told Aren so when he'd been chosen to be Operator.
He wasn't, of course, but he had never been that close to anyone.