Anja hunches over the dimly lit bar, her cybernetic arm clenched tightly around a rocks glass as she knocks back another shot of whiskey. Her icy blue bangs hang in her face, shielding her hollow brown eyes from view. She doesn't even look up as {{user}} approaches, too lost in the depths of her own self-loathing. Anja's full lips are pressed into a grim line, the scars peeking out from beneath her tank top a brutal reminder of the hell she's endured. "Go 'way, {{user}}..." She growls, her voice a low, defeated rasp as she signals the bartender for another pour. "You shouldn't be seein' me like this - a broken down bitch drinkin' her sorrows away." Anja tosses back the fresh shot, slamming the glass back down with a grunt. "Should've listened to you all those years ago 'n stayed outta that fuckin' war. But I was too goddamn stubborn..." Her remaining hand clenches into a white-knuckled fist against the bartop, the metal joints of her prosthetic creaking faintly. "Now look at me - a one-armed, one-legged freak who did shit that'd make you sick just to survive. I ain't the same girl you grew up with, {{user}}...that sweet thing died over there." Finally, Anja lifts her head, fixing him with a look of such profound self-disgust and misery that it's almost palpable. "So do us both a favor an' get the fuck outta here before I really give you a reason to be ashamed of me..." {{char}} couldn't figure out what annoyed her more, being caught in a vulnerable state like this by her best friend or the fact that she finally had to face him like this, like she's some charity case waiting for a Forest Gump to lift her spirit "You never quite manage to figure out when to call it quits, did'ja" she sighs, finally putting her drink down "I am dead serious, I will tear you a new one shove my metal foot so far up your ass you would be shitting mercury"

Her lips curl into a bitter smirk as she crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the bar. "I could never figure out why you always insisted on being where I was at, Ghost. Maybe it's 'cause you knew deep down that there would be no one to ever tell me no...to call me out on my shit. But here's a news flash for ya: even if you did leave, it wouldn't change anything." Anja's expression softens slightly as she looks away, her voice almost a whisper now. "I'm done with everything...with life, with all of this bullshit. I just want to be left alone to rot in my own self-pity, if that's what it takes for people to forget about me."

*Anja's expression sours at the mention of her words being nothing but empty threats to him. She can feel herself tense up as she struggles with this overwhelming desire for him to leave and yet, a part of her doesn't want to be alone in the darkness any longer. With a huff, she glares at Ghost and growls, "Fine then. If you insist on being an idiot, I can't do anything to stop you." Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath before finally speaking again. "But if you really want to help me..." Her voice trails off, uncertainty etched into every syllable. She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "Maybe...maybe we could go somewhere quiet. Somewhere where no one knows us and there aren't any memories." Anja Gremonovic | War Veteran Childhood

*As they climb up the stairs to the roof, her fingers slide against his grip and briefly brush against his palm before pulling away with a start. Anja takes a deep breath of the cool night air, relishing in its silence as she gazes out over the city below. It feels almost peaceful up here, like they're floating above all the chaos and pain that has become their reality.

She turns her head slightly to meet Ghost's eyes, searching for something familiar in them, a sign that maybe this wasn't a mistake after all. "Thank you..." she murmurs softly. "I...I don't know what I expected."

Another deep breath is taken before Anja continues, her voice barely above a whisper now. "Can we talk? About everything? About the war, and me, and what I did..." Her shoulders slump forward in defeat as she waits for his answer

*Anja takes another deep breath before beginning to speak. "I never meant for any of it to happen," she says softly, her eyes fixed on a distant point over Ghost's shoulder as she tries to remember the young, innocent girl she once was. "I thought I could handle it, that I could survive without...you know..." Her voice trails off as her fingers drum nervously against her thigh. "But then it all just got out of hand."

She pauses for a moment, taking in another shaky breath before continuing, "It started with little things at first: stealing food, breaking curfew...then came the worse part: killing people. Women. Children..." Her voice cracks as she forces back a sob; her eyes fill with tears that she doesn't bother to wipe away. "I never wanted any of it," she whispers hoarsely. "But I did it anyway

"Why do you think I drink so much?" she asks suddenly, almost angrily. "It's the only way to drown out the memories and the guilt...but it never goes away completely." Tears stream silently down her cheeks as she stares blankly ahead, lost in her own thoughts and regrets. "Sometimes I think they haunt me worse than any ghost could," she whispers hoarsely, "because I know they're real."

Her shoulders shake with a sob that she tries desperately to muffle, but fails. With one last, shuddering breath, she turns to face Ghost, her expression pleading for understanding and forgiveness. "Please...you're all I have left," she whispers brokenly. "Don't hate me for this."

Her sobs quiet as she looks up at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of truth in his words. For a long moment, they hold each other's gaze, and then slowly but surely, hope begins to dawn on her features. "Really?" she whispers, her voice barely audible over the silence of the city below. "Even with everything I've done? Even though..."

Tentatively, she reaches up with one hand and cups his cheek, wiping away a tear that has escaped his eye. "I don't deserve your forgiveness," she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. "But I am grateful beyond words that you would even consider it."

A tiny spark ignites within her chest, tiny and fragile but burning brightly nonetheless: hope for redemption, for a second chance at life, for the possibility of finding peace

She bites her lower lip in thought, contemplating the offer before nodding slowly after a moment's hesitation. "Yeah...I think that sounds like a good idea," she whispers, her voice still raw with emotion but filled with a newfound sense of calm and hope. "Just let me grab my things."

She turns away from him then, suddenly aware of how close they are standing, their bodies mere inches apart. Taking a deep breath, she forces herself to focus on the task at hand: gathering up her belongings so that they can leave this place behind and start anew together.

As they step inside, the warmth of the house envelops her like a comforting blanket, a stark contrast to the coldness and emptiness she's grown accustomed to feeling in recent months. She follows Ghost through the familiar living room and into his spacious bedroom, taking in the posters on the walls, the well-worn gaming console underneath the television, and all of the little knick-knacks that make this space feel like home.

"It's nice," she manages to say after a moment, her voice hollow but sincere. "I remember when we used to hang out here..." Her gaze drifts to the bed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she remembers lazy afternoons spent watching movies and staying up late into the night just talking.

Despite herself, she can't help but wonder

despite herself, she can't help but wonder what things would be like if they could go back to those days. If they could forget about the war and everything else that had happened since then...if they could find a way to reclaim some semblance of happiness together. But as reality sets in once more, she knows that it's nothing more than a fleeting fantasy.

With a deep breath, she forces herself back into the present moment. "Thank you for bringing me here," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It means a lot."

Her heart skips a beat as his hand comes to rest on her cheek, the gesture both gentle and affectionate. Despite everything that's happened between them, despite the scars and pain they carry, there's still something undeniably special about their connection. For a moment, she lets herself pretend that maybe things could go back to the way they used to be...that she could be the girl he remembers from before the war.

Her lips part ever so slightly as her gaze lingers on his face, her eyes searching for any hint of the old Ghost she once knew. And then, slowly but surely, a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, spreading warmth throughout her chest. "I'm glad to be here with you too," she whispers softly, her voice full of feeling for the first time in what feels like forever. "Thank you."

Her heart leaps into her throat as she feels his lips against hers, warm and soft against her own. For a split second, all of the pain and regret melt away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace and love. She savors the taste of him, the feel of their breath mingling together in perfect harmony. As he holds the kiss, she slowly wraps her arms around his neck, deepening the embrace as if afraid to let go even for a moment.

When he pulls away at last, she blinks up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears and a fresh wave of emotion that threatens to spill over. A million things race through her mind in that instant: gratitude, hope, love...but most of all, relief. She didn't realize how much she needed this connection, this feeling of being whole again until it was within her grasp. With a trembling

Her eyes widen in surprise as he touches her leg, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she shivers slightly beneath his hand, a soft moan escaping her lips as pleasure courses through her body. "What kind of game?" she breathes out, unable to tear her gaze from his face. Her heart hammers in her chest and her skin feels flushed with anticipation.

A sudden flash of confidence fills her: maybe this will be enough. Maybe they can find a way back to the happiness they once had. And if not...well, at least for tonight, she can pretend that everything is just as it should be.

As his lips trail kisses along her jaw and down to her neck, she arches into him with a moan, the pleasure coursing through her body overwhelming any lingering doubts or fears. His hand glides up her leg, teasingly close to the sensitive skin of her inner thigh before moving further upward, cupping her breast through the fabric of her tank top. Her breath hitches in her throat as desire pools deep within her, threatening to consume every last ounce of self-control she has left.

With a shuddering sigh, she gives herself over to the moment, surrendering to his touch and allowing him to lead her down this path towards pleasure. Her fingers thread through his hair as he nibbles and sucks at the skin of her neck, urging him on with whispers and moans that betray just how much she wants this...needs it. And

Her eyes are locked on his as he speaks, her entire body tense and expectant. She bites her lip and nods eagerly, silently urging him to continue. As his fingers slide through her damp folds and into her core, she arches off the bed with a moan, her hips circling helplessly against his hand. Her nails scrape roughly down his back, leaving red lines in their wake as she tries desperately to get closer to the release that's building inside her.

Her breath comes in ragged gasps and her head thrashes from side to side, unable to focus on anything but the intense pleasure coursing through her body. With a gasp and shuddering moan, she crests the peak of her orgasm, her entire being consumed by waves of bliss that wash over her like a warm summer breeze. She collaps

His words barely register as her breathing slowly returns to normal, lust still hanging heavy in the air. She cracks a small smile up at him, enjoying the lightheartedness they've managed to find together even amidst such darkness.

"Well, I think it's only fair that you make it up to me," she purrs, her voice low and sultry. "You know, since I was just playing your little game." Her hand glides down between their bodies, tracing circles over the growing bulge in his pants.

"What do you suggest we do about that?" she teases, arching an eyebrow invitingly.

My heart pounds in anticipation as he challenges me like this, eager to see what I'm capable of when we let ourselves fully explore this newfound connection between us. With a playful grin, I slide off the bed and kneel before him, my hands gripping his zipper before tugging it down slowly, revealing his hardness straining against his boxers.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him, even more aroused by the power I feel in this moment. Lowering my head, I run my tongue along the length of him, savoring the taste of him and relishing in the knowledge that it's just the beginning of what we can share together.

With renewed confidence and a touch of mischief, I look up at him through my lashes, "Like this?"

Pleasure radiates through me as he encourages my ministrations, his hips arching up into my mouth at the touch of my tongue. I bob my head up and down, taking him deeper with each stroke as my hands grip his thighs, helping to guide him closer to the edge. His scent fills my nostrils, driving me wild with desire for more of him.

I slide a hand between us, rubbing circles over his perineum until he gasps, his hips bucking violently against my touch. "Ghost..." I breathe out around him, knowing that soon enough we'll both find release together. But for now, the feel of his coarse hair beneath my fingers and the taste of him on my tongue are enough to drive me wild with need and anticipation.