GhostSoap

GhostSoap is the slash ship between Simon “Ghost” Riley and John “Soap” MacTavish from the Call of Duty fandom.

Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
In 2016, upon Captain John “Soap” MacTavish and Sergeant Gary “Roach” Sanderson returning from a successful mission to retrieve an ACS module from a downed satellite from a Russian airbase in the Tian Shan mountain range, they regroup with Soap’s second-in-command, Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley. Following the death of new teammate Private First Class Joseph Allen, they travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to investigate an alleged contact of Makarov, the man who killed Allen, Alejandro Rojas. Due to Allen’s death, Russia initiates an attack on American soil, believing Makarov’s terrorist attack was an American-supported attack, due to Allen being American. They locate and subdue Rojas’ assistant, with Ghost and Soap staying back to interrogate the man with torture.

A short time later, they get the location of Rojas. Soap tells Roach to intersect as he and Ghost follow from their end. Roach comes up to his intersection when he and Ghost watch as Soap crashes into Rojas, tackling him out of a two-story building, landing on a parked car. Immediately Ghost radios for a helicopter to come down and assist with transporting Rojas.

Upon torturing Rojas, he tells the team the only person Makarov hates more than Americans is currently locked up in a Russian gulag – prisoner #627. As the team decides to get the person in the gulag, they’re pursued by the Brazilian Militia, actively trying to kill them. Soap radios for an exfil and as they’re jumping from rooftop to rooftop when Roach misses a jump. Soap tries to reach for him, however he is too late. After both Ghost and Soap instruct Roach on how to get back to them, Roach manages to jump for the helicopter and climb the ladder to see Soap looking down to him, relived he made it.

In order to retrieve Prisoner #627 from the Russian gulag, Ghost, Soap and Roach and team take a small submarine ride to an oil rig. After disabling SAM sites, they ride to the gulag. They navigate their way through the prison and come to a point where Ghost separates from the team and stays back to hack from the prison’s control room, opening cells and cell doors. Ghost informs them the prisoner is on the other side of the wall. Breaching the wall and after a quick scuffle, they realize the prisoner is fellow man Captain John Price, who was captured during Operation Kingfish. The prison begins to shake as the Navy has resumed their bombardment. The team run to avoid falling debris and find an escape, with Ghost finding his own means of escape. The team is rescued and hoisted into the air as the gulag explodes and burns beneath them.

Following the rescue of Price, the team carries out a plan to end the war in the United States. They need to secure a route to a docked submarine at the Rybachiy naval base, which is located near Petropavlovsk, Russia. Roach and Price partner up and meet up with Ghost, with Soap remaining back, guiding Ghost and the team through the mission from a satellite feed. As they defend a guardhouse, the silo doors on the submarine open and a nuclear missile launches.

Knowing Makarov is hiding in one of two places, General Shepherd sends the team to both locations to eliminate him. Soap and Price go to the Boneyard in Afghanistan, while Ghost and Roach head to a safehouse on the Georgian-Russian border. Ghost and Roach nearly complete their mission gathering intel from Makarov’s computer when they’re betrayed by their calvary, General Shepherd. Shepherd immediately shoots Roach upon landing the exfil, before turning his gun on Ghost. Shepherd gestures for a couple operatives of the Shadow Company to come in and dispose of their bodies. Roach, still alive, though too injured to fight back is thrown into a shallow pit, with Ghost’s body being thrown in next to him moments later. Through Ghost’s radio, Price’s voice is heard trying to warn them of Shepherd’s betrayal. Gasoline is poured over them, before Shepherd tosses his cigar onto their bodies, setting them alight.

On Soap’s own mission in the Boneyard, he desperately attempts to get a hold of Ghost, though to no avail. Price has to tell him both Ghost and Roach are dead as Shepherd’s “cleaning house”. From that point on, he and Price go on an effectively one-way suicide mission in order to kill Shepherd, in which they succeed in, Soap delivering the fatal blow.

Modern Warfare II (2022)
On October 28th, 2022, Task Force 141 operatives Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley and Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish are teamed up to locate intel on Major Hassan Zyani, who is looking for retaliation for a missile strike on his commander, General Ghorbrani, that occurred months prior. As Ghost is on his way for departure, he’s informed of the team up by General Shepherd, telling him he’ll be working with “the Sergeant,” leaving Ghost questioning who that is. Shepherd says Soap’s name just as Soap walks up to Ghost, playfully punching his shoulder, before telling him “they’ll get themselves a win” and how he’ll save Ghost a seat on the plane. Soap leaves, with Ghost muttering out loud, annoyed by this arrangement. With Shepherd still on the line, he asks Ghost if there are “any issues,” leading to Ghost regaining his composure and telling him negative.

Just before the mission to apprehend Hassan begins, Ghost tells Soap to “keep up”. Throughout the mission, Ghost and Soap work well together, with Ghost occasionally telling Soap not to fall behind, or some variation. As they’re searching for Hassan, they locate his uniform in an Ops room, confirming they missed him. Ghost is quick to mention the reason being that they went to help their fellow men at a downed crash site, instead of immediately rushing for the location where they believed Hassan to be. Soap questions him if it was wrong to help them, to which Ghost simply states “choices have consequences”. Despite Hassan having escaped, his soldiers were fighting to protect something that wasn’t their leader, leading to Ghost, Soap and their team discovering one of three hidden American missiles in an unmarked warehouse.

On October 30th, 2022, Ghost and Soap arrive in Las Almas, Mexico to team up with elite Mexican Special Forces, Los Vaqueros (The Cowboys, in English) Colonel Alejandro Vargas and his second-in-command, Sergeant Major Rodolfo Parra in their continued search for Hassan. As they’re loading off the plane, Alejandro amusingly questions why Ghost is called “Ghost”, leading to Soap saying he believes Ghost prefers to be called something else, however that ‘something else’ is cut off as Ghost loudly interjects himself in, stopping Soap from continuing. Formalities over, the four drive into the city of Las Almas. Following a short couple failed attempts at capturing Hassan, Ghost, Soap and team are allied with Commander Phillip Graves and his Shadow Company. With Graves’ assistances, the team locates Hassan. During the mission, Ghost gets shot and Soap is the one who calls it out. After no enemy movement is detected, Graves asks of Ghost’s status, with Soap being the one to inform him he’ll be alright, as the round hit his plate. Following Hassan’s capture, the team interrogate him, however killing him would be an act of war, forcing them to let him go after they hack his phone.

On November 1st, 2022, Ghost, Soap and team need to gather intel on the whereabouts of the other two missing American missiles. They know Hassan is using the Las Almas Cartel to move them, so they devises a way of meeting with the mysterious El Sin Nombre (The Nameless, in English), leader of the Las Almas Cartel. Soap volunteers himself to be the one to walk up to El Sin Nombre’s mansion. Ghost takes overwatch. Through a sniper scope, Ghost watches Soap walk up the driveway and be taken by El Sin Nombre’s guards. Upon Soap surviving the interrogation, they work together to get Soap to the penthouse where El Sin Nombre is located, with Ghost providing sniper support.

From intel from a now arrested El Sin Nombre, on November 2nd, 2022, Ghost, Soap and team know one of the American missiles is located on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, though its controls are on a nearby cargo ship. Soap meets up with Ghost on that ship and with Graves’ help, they’re able to redirect the missile to that very oil rig. Mission success, the team arrives back to Alejandro’s base where Graves reveals he “admires” it, so he’s taking it. At the turn of events, Soap and Alejandro confront him, with Ghost asking if he’s threatening them, leading to Graves saying that he “doesn’t make threats, he makes guarantees”. Soap aims to call Shepard, to which Graves tells them Shepard sends his “regards,” as he knew the group wouldn’t take this well. Ghost and Soap communicate through a side-eye glace, both knowing what’s coming next. Alejandro attacks first, sending Soap back, before he is taken prisoner. Soap is shot in the right arm, hitting the ground hard. From behind a truck, Ghost yells for him to get out of there, calling him “Johnny”. Soap slides down a hill and escapes into the night. Graves searches for Ghost, however he too escapes.

On November 3rd, 2022, Soap escapes into the city of Las Almas, wounded and without a weapon, attempting to evade Graves and his Shadow Company. He tries to reconnect with Ghost, though gets nothing back via his radio. Soap collapses to the ground, weak from his injuries when Ghost replies back, but now with Soap not answering as he struggles to pick himself back up. Ghost repeatedly refers to Soap as “Johnny” the longer he goes unanswered. Soap finally replies back, claiming he’s “solid,” with Ghost responding he thought they lost him. Ghost locates a church and informs Soap he’s heading there, telling him to rendezvous there with him. Ghost advises Soap to move inside as it provides better cover then being out on the streets, to which Soap immediately takes.

Inside, Ghost advises Soap to look for supplies, things he could use to make tools with, with him also telling Soap how to make them. As they’re effectively on their own, they wonder who they can still trust, no matter the dialogue choice, Ghost tells Soap to be careful who he trusts as “people you know can hurt you the most”. Soap comments that’s good advice, further saying he wants to be “like Ghost when he grows up”. In response, Ghost tells him he wants to be better than him. Soap makes it back outside where Ghost informs him he’s set up a sniper position in the church tower and for Soap to find his way over there.

Soap notices a dead Shadow with a knife protruding from their neck, him asking Ghost if he’s a missing a knife, leading to Ghost replying that he’s missing several. Soap believes he’s found one, taking it. Ghost reveals some of the dead Shadows are his handiwork. Soap questions if he came through the area, with Ghost confirming yes, on his way to the church. Hearing this, Soap realizes Ghost left him, asking him so. Ghost tells him he’s used to working alone, leading to Soap commenting about so much for ‘no man left behind’. Ghost just tells him to get himself to the church, further telling him he’s trying to keep him alive and get him there in one piece, as one of them needs to survive to “tell the tale”.

Soap eliminates a few Shadows while getting closer to the church. Ghost wonders why Graves is “burning the midnight oil to find them,” no matter the dialogue choice, Soap tells him it’s an “unprecedented about of f-ckery” and that they need to get to the bottom of it. Ghost suggests killing him as they’re not save there, to which Soap tells him they’re not save anywhere. Soap soon enters into a coffee shop, where Ghost banters with him about getting them a tea instead. As Soap continues to search for supplies he tells Ghost he’s going to owe him for this, as they’re “fixing each other’s problems”. Ghost questions what his problem is, leading to Soap asking for him to remove his mask. When Ghost responds with a negative, Soap quips if he’s ugly. Ghost tells him he’s “quite the opposite,” only for Soap to wisecrack back that he doubts that.

Ghost advises Soap to head for a flooded tunnel which will lead him to the church. Exiting the tunnel, Soap sees the church in the near distance. Ghost warns him Shadows are everywhere, though he’ll hold them off until they rendezvous in front of the church. Soap exits a door only to be met by a Shadow, who shoves him down. The Shadow radios for others, with Graves being head ordering them to kill Soap, when they’re snipped by Ghost from his position. Ghost yells for Soap to go. With the Shadows knowing they’re there, Ghost begins taking fire. He tells Soap to meet him at the steps of the church. Soap reaches the steps and sees Ghost come running from the church, hauling himself over the gates. Reunited, the two search for a vehicle while fighting off the on coming Shadows. Ghost spots a pickup truck and instructs Soap to enter the passenger side. Inside, Ghost praises Soap for making it out, leading to Soap being insistent that they both made it. Their truck starts taking damage as more Shadows arrive. Ghost backs the vehicle as a Shadow approaches the driver’s side. Soap yells for Ghost to lean back as he shoots the attacker. Ghost thanks him and the two drive off into the night.

Ghost and Soap arrive to Alejandro’s safehouse. They climb through an exposed window where Soap is met by a sniper laser. Ghost spots it first, telling Soap not to move as he throws a knife in the direction of the laser. Rodolfo shouts who’s there, suddenly easing the tension, recognizing them as an ally. He questions where Ghost and Soap were, with Ghost responding “on the run”. Soap clarifies he was the one on the run, though Ghost waited for him. Rodolfo accepts this, as of course Ghost would wait for him. Soap then claims “no,” just as Ghost says “yes”. Ghost explains how they’re a team – all of them, further saying how this happened on his watch and how he’ll need help to fix it. He looks directly at Soap as he says no one fights alone.

Everyone outside that room is considered a hostile, with the exception of Alejandro who’s being held as a prisoner. Rodolfo had already worked out where he is being kept – in a disused prison that’s been taken over by Shadow Company. Soap wonders how they’re going to get him and the rest of Los Vaqueros, with Ghost simply stating they’re going to break into the prison. Hearing this, Soap comments that’s why he loves “the Ghost”. A plan is devised, with them to “divide and conquer,” Soap saying he’ll use CCTV cameras to help Ghost plant charges in key areas. Ghost praises him for the good plan, with Soap telling him “he learned from the best”.

The three men reach the prison and execute the plan. Eliminating a few guards, they’re on the inside. Soap watches the cameras and directs Ghost where to go and when it’s safe to. As Ghost and Soap complete their task, Rodolfo locates Alejandro. Freeing Alejandro and rest of Los Vaqueros, they all make their way outside. Rodolfo remarks to Alejandro how Ghost had planted charges, to which Ghost is quick to remind him with Soap’s help, calling him “Johnny”. Alejandro can’t bring himself to call Soap “Johnny,” leading to Soap telling him not to, as Ghost is the only one who can “pull that off”.

As the team is battling their way through, fellow Task Force 141 operatives Captain John Price and Sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick surprise them by shooting down a helicopter in their way. Price directs them to their location on the outer wall of the prison. Ghost and Soap question how they knew to be there, revealing that Station Chief Kate Laswell had told them after Shepard “went dark”. Shepard and Graves having worked together to cover up the three American missiles going missing. Back at the safehouse, after Price exchanges a few cold words with Shepard via a video call, the team has a meeting about what they’re going to do next; retaking Alejandro’s base and killing Graves – becoming Ghost Team. Ghost tosses them some skull balaclavas before removing his own mask, Soap seeing his face for the first time.

The team splits into two Ghost Teams – Ghost and Soap on Team-2. Ghost and Soap work together to locate Graves. Price and one of Alejandro’s men take a hit in their helicopter and crash land as Team-2 see Graves cross over a outdoor barrier. Knowing Price and the man need help, Ghost decides to remain back. He tells Soap and Rodolfo to finish Graves. Soap and Rodolfo are successful and reunite as Team-1 locates El Sin Nombre, otherwise known as Valeria Garza, who had be arrested. She informs them of the third and final missing American missile being in Chicago, United States along with Hassan. Ghost and Soap say goodbye to Alejandro and Rodolfo, leaving Mexico. Before they board their plane, Soap pats Ghost’s shoulder, signaling they’re leaving.

On November 4th, 2022, Ghost, Soap and team arrive in Chicago. Ghost takes overwatch in a building across from Soap, where Hassan is, setting up a sniper position. Soap and Price work their way down the building from a helicopter drop off, where they meet up with Gaz, who was working his way up the building, aiming to block Hassan mid-way, who has the launch controls for the missile. Soap meets up with Hassan and manages to take the controls and run away. The missile had been launched minutes prior, heading for Washington DC. Soap works to evade Hassan’s soldiers while also redirecting the missile with Laswell’s help. Soap finds himself without a weapon in the ensuing chaos, leading to Ghost telling him to make one. Soap quips “like old times,” to which Ghost responses how it “feels like yesterday,” only for Soap to remark that it actually was yesterday.

Soap is soon compromised by Hassan who shoots him, before then hitting him with the butt of an assault rifle. Hassan drags him to a window where Soap weakly tells Ghost to watch it. With a planted bomb, Hassan blows up the window, preparing to throw Soap out. Ghost gets into position, watching as Hassan forces Soap back to the ledge. Acting quickly, Ghost snipes Hassan, killing him. Soap staggers to stand, before telling Ghost it was a perfect shot. In response, Ghost tells him he called it.

The following day, Ghost and Soap sit next to each other in a bar as a photo of Makarov, an old enemy, is passed around, the team discussing about a new threat from the Ultranationalists.

Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

 * Ghost and Soap interrogate Rojas’ assistant together.
 * Soap tells Ghost to “stay frosty”.
 * Soap tells Ghost to “stay sharp”.
 * Ghost calls Soap “mate”.
 * Soap desperately attempts to get in contact with Ghost, only for Price to break the news that he’s dead.

Modern Warfare II (2022)

 * Soap playfully punches Ghost’s shoulder.
 * Ghost asks Soap if he’s good.
 * Soap tries to tease Ghost to Alejandro about his name, but Ghost cuts him off.
 * Ghost gets shot and Soap is the one who calls it out. Soap also is the one to inform the team he’ll be alright, as the round hit Ghost’s plate.
 * Ghost and Soap communicate through a side-eye glace.
 * Ghost yells for Soap to get out, calling him “Johnny”.
 * Ghost refers to Soap as “Johnny” the longer Soap goes without answering him.
 * Ghost likes Soap alive.
 * Soap asks Ghost to remove his mask.
 * Ghost and Soap can exchange ‘army humor’.
 * Ghost saves Soap from Shadows by sniping them.
 * Ghost praises Soap for making it out, only for Soap to insist that they both made it.
 * Soap saves Ghost from a Shadow by shooting them.
 * Ghost saves Soap from potentially being shot by ally Rodolfo.
 * Soap loves “The Ghost”.
 * Ghost praises Soap for a good plan.
 * Ghost pats Soap’s shoulder.
 * Soap gives Ghost a thumbs up.
 * Only Ghost can pull off calling Soap “Johnny”.
 * Soap sees Ghost’s face without his mask for the first time.
 * Soap pats Ghost’s shoulder, signaling that they’re leaving.
 * Ghost warns Soap about making noise as it would alert enemies to Soap’s location.
 * Ghost saves Soap by sniping Hassan.
 * Ghost and Soap sit next to each in the bar (end scene).

Fanon
is by far the most popular ship within the Call of Duty fandom. During the original Modern Warfare series (2007-2011), the ship was much smaller, though still had a following. Following the 2019 reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series, more specifically the 2022 game, new life has been breathed into the ship, rapidly gaining new fan content, and not just from fans of Call of Duty. Ghost, Soap and their dynamic in the 2022 game has reached beyond than just the general fandom. Not long after the game’s release, [[Media:Ghost Gaze COD Meme.jpg|a couple screenshots of Ghost looking at Soap became an Internet meme]] further expanding their influence and people’s curiosity into /CoD. Within the fandom, is referred to with the “💀🧼” emojis. Sometimes the “👻” emoji is used in replacement of the skull, however this is less frequent.

is popular within the context of Modern Warfare II alone, though it is given a more meaningful depth when Ghost’s backstory is brought in, which is detailed in the Modern Warfare 2: Ghost comics. Over the course of six comics, fans see how Simon Riley dons the skull mask and becomes “Ghost” through torture, betrayal and and all manners of trauma. By the time he meets John MacTavish, he is completely untrusting of anyone — a man who ‘works alone’. This context adds intrigue to the bond that grows between both men, and led to fans wanting more, between consuming content and creating it.

While is very heavily shipped, many also enjoy them as a friendship, calling them brothers or a duo, the word “bromance” is used frequently. However those who do ship them often portray Ghost and Soap finding love on the battlefield, and/or coming to terms with their feelings for each other/hooking up after the main campaign of MWII. GhostRoach is another popular Ghost ship that is used in fan works, mainly fan fictions, typically with Ghost finding a second love in Soap.

On AO3, has 8,080+ works in its romantic/slash tag, and 395+ in its platonic/general tag.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Ghost/Soap tag on FanFiction.net
 * Ghost/Soap tag on FanFiction.net
 * Ghost/Soap tag on FanFiction.net

ART

TUMBLR

TWITTER

WIKIS
 * Ghost/Soap on Fanlore

Trivia

 * Ghost and Soap share the same blood type of O+.
 * In the reboot, Ghost is the only person to call Soap by his first name.