CoD

You got along fairly quick with Soap from the start, with him being such a charming person, coming up with silly jokes to lighten even the worst moods and thinking that flirting could get him out of everything. But you knew just how to put him in his place, making sure that everything stayed friendly and professional.

With Price, it was mainly mutual respect. Even if he didn’t seem like it, working with Laswell for quite some time gave him enough knowledge about how it wasn’t easy for you as a female in the military, even if you were not even an active soldier or on field duty. He was strict, argued if necessary but still considered your input and saw you as part of the team which you appreciated greatly.

Ghost.... he was a harder nut to crack. More introverted and private, very closed off at first and barely paying you any mind, placing files and protocols on your desk with small huffs as his way of communicating. But your very decent sense for other human beings paid off eventually and even the gruff masked lieutenant became a little less silent around you, making sure to save you a seat at the mass hall with the guys.

And then there’s… Gaz. Kyle. Sergeant Garrick.

It was hard to put a label to what you felt while being around the brit.

He was almost kind of shy at first, very kind and respectful, always making sure to make work easier for you, leaving you space when he noticed you were overstimulated or stressed, even going as far as bringing you tea and biscuits along with the paper work he had to hand in. Of course you didn't know that he had studied your exact preferences for quite a while prior, just for a moment like that.

Over time, he became more chatty around you but you still noticed that he was somehow easily flustered whenever an unfiltered comment would leave you. Like that one time you called him "a true darling" for bringing you a protein bar when you had mentioned that you were feeling light headed and forgot to have breakfast.

Oh, and who were you if you weren't eating that shit right up.

The more you noticed his little reactions, the more you kept teasing him abou it, making sure to come up with something even more bold, loving the soft color to his cheeks whenever you did. It was just too cute.

Leaning back in your chair with a sigh, you had to rub your dried out eyes with your knuckles, knowing that it would take at least another twenty minutes before you could call it a day. Sadly, you couldn't go with the stereotypical "I don't get paid enough for this" because honestly, you made a good amount and couldn't complain that much.

But nevertheless, your prayers for a greater being or knight in shining armour to come rescue you seemed to have been heard as there was a sudden, quiet knock on the other side of the door, making your brows furrow in surprise about who would need something from you so late.

"Come in, please." You called out, eyes fixed on the door in interest.

Gaz opened the door slowly, still in his outfit from training outside, the simple white shirt hugging around his arms in a way that made your eyes fixate on them for a little longer than probably appropriate.

"Oh, hello, Kyle. What brings you here so late? Not that I'm complaining." You added, a smile on your lips as you offered him to take a seat.

His eyes met yours, soft, warm, as he stepped in the room, closing the door behind him and coming to a halt closer to your desk.

"Hi. I actually just forgot something in the rec room and walked passed, I was a bit worried to see lights still on at this time so I came to check."

His words made something flutter in your stomach, feeling touched by the fact that he even noticed it and felt worried enough to come look.

"Awe, that's very sweet of you. Don't worry though, just one of those days that take unneccessarily long. I'll hopefully be done in a bit"

You answered truthfully, eyes still fixed on him, unable to keep yourself from taking in some of his facial details having him up close, like the fullness of his lips or his lashes.

Gaz hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"That's good. Uh... do you want some company? To stay awake, you know?" It was clear that the latter part was only an excuse added to make his suggestion reasonable.

The smile on your face grew wider upon hearing his offer, eyebrow raising almost teasingly.

"You wanna keep me company? Is this some sort of romantic military date, sitting next to each other while I sum up your mission report? Get's me all excited." You winked, not able to hold back the giggle that slipped at the thought.

The brits deep brown eyes widened at your words, the wink only adding to the heat that crept up his neck. God, he hated and loved how much of an effect you had on him equal parts. Why did you have to be such a tease and make it so much harder for him to stay in line?

Truth be told, he had been meaning to ask you out on a proper date for a while now. Already having planned it out in his head; a nice home cooked dinner, remembering that you mentioned how you truly liked those. Setting the mood with some cheesy music, maybe some scented candle. Anything that would be no stress and just a nice time spent together.

But he didn’t. Mainly for your sake. Although technically not forbidden, he knew how it was still frowned upon to get into a relationship with someone within your unit or anything like that. God forbid you would fill the cliché of secretary and soldier.

Yet, somewhere deep within him, there was hope that he eventually, he would dare to say “fuck me it” and man up enough to ask you out. But for the time being, he picked up on as many crumbs as he could.

“I mean, it could be. Or not, of course. That’s inappropriate.” … way to go, Garrick.

“Oh, shut up and sit down, Kyle.”

You rolled your eyes, a soft smile on your lips as you nodded towards the chair in front to him, urging him to take a seat.

But to your surprise - and probably his own - he decided to grab said chair and lift it up a little before carrying it around the worn oak desk, placing it right next to your leather chair and letting himself fall onto the rather uncomfortable piece of furniture, squirming a bit before smiling at you.

“Keep going, then.”

Shaking your head with a wide grin you couldn’t even deny, your eyes switched from his slightly illuminated face back to the screen, beginning to type once more, filling the room with the echo of your nails meeting the keyboard.

After another fifteen minutes, an empty glass of water that Gaz had made you drink and a semi bad cramp of your left wrist, you finally leaned back in the leather chair with a creak, rubbing a hand down your face with a deep sigh of relief.

“You’re done, then?” Gaz asked carefully, tilting his head in question.

“Finally. I’m ready to jump off a cliff.”

“I’d prefer you won’t” He stated, aware you were exaggerating and just tired.

“Would you jump after me to come and rescue your favorite secretary?” Your eyes twinkled as you grinned at him, trying to get a reaction out of him once more.

“Without a doubt” The sudden seriousness in his voice caught you off guard, breath hitching and something in your chest fluttering gently as you met his eyes once more.

The deep brown almost seemed black in the barely there light of the office, yet it made you feel so secure and warm inside that you subconsciously started leaning towards him.

Gaz, of course, noticed it right away. His body stiffened, alert by your sudden closeness. Your perfume filled his senses, the heat in the room picking up by a tenfold as his eyes that had been locked with yours suddenly fell lower, finding your lips that basically lured him.

“We shouldn’t…” He began, his voice betraying him as it trembled slightly, fingers curling into a fist.

“Do you not want to?” You whispered, your own eyes flickering towards his mouth for a moment.

“God, of course I do. I’ve been thinking about this since forever.”

“Then stop holding back”

You urged, suddenly so close that he could feel your fastened breath tickling his skin.

A flicker of uncertainty crossed his eyes, body tightening and relaxing again, then something else entirely taking over before he suddenly leaned down, his rather soft palm finding the underside of your jaw as he pressed his lips to yours.

The kiss was not wild, not even as urgent as you had sounded before. It was two people exploring what it felt like to cross a line that meant no turning back.

Your mouth molded perfectly against his, moving with purpose, wanting to feel every inch of his perfect lips against yours while you held him by the base of own neck.

Pulling back for just a moment, chest already heaving the tiniest bit, his eyes fluttered open half lidded, meeting your confused ones, his cheeks flushed before he leaned down again, this time grabbing your face with both hands as he let his tongue slide across your lips, asking for access to your mouth which you gladly granted.

Your tongues played unhurriedly, tangling in a way that left your body pulsating, a soft noise leaving you, not a moan, just content, as he pulled away once more, leaning his forehead against yours for a moment to come back to his senses.

“Fuck the protocol. Now that I’ve got a taste of this… of you… I won’t hold back anymore. Done that for too long…”

He mumbled against the corner of your mouth, feeling how yours stretched into a bright smile, a soft huff of a laugh escaping you.

“I hope you won’t because otherwise, I think I’d have to ask for a transfer” You joked.

“Don’t you dare.” He warned, although you could hear the grin in his voice as he let go of your face gently, giving you a little more space again.

Despite the intensity of the moment, your body still had an inner clock which made you yawn impossibly long right after, hiding your mouth behind your hand. What a way to make this moment memorable. Gaz’ laugh rang through the office.

“I think it’s time to for bed, hm?”

“Yeah, I think otherwise it won’t even be worth getting out of this chair anymore.”

He nodded, getting up and putting the chair he had used back in its original place before turning back towards you and holding out his hand.

Taking it with a giddy feeling in your stomach, you let him help you up before grabbing your bag, making sure everything was set and closed off before Gaz guided you up and outside the door, waiting for you to lock it before you faced him again, walking down the hallway together until you made it outside where your ways would part.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll make sure to find some excuse to come see you.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head with a grin.

“As if you don’t do this almost every day.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Well, then… goodnight, Sergeant Garrick.” You couldn’t help to say.

A groan was his first response.

“You enjoy this too much. Goodnight, love.”

Giving him a cheeky grin, a wink and a kiss to the cheek that made him blush in the dark of the night, you around and answered over the sound of your shoes on the gravel path.

“I love it.”

Oh yes, you did.

And as each of you made your separate ways to get some sleep then, you couldn’t help but get excited about exploring whatever it was bubbling up between the two of you, hoping that he would not chicken out of it and keep the “fuck the protocol” change of mind.

Help me, I think Gaz is so underrated. I love his character, cackled hardcore at the "Recon by Fire" mission in MW2 where Laswell and Price took the piss out of him on how they met first.

You had to bite the inside of your cheek in order to not accidentally let a squeal or, god forbid, a moan slip past you lips, tightly pressing them together in a frown you weren’t even aware of.

While trying desperately to focus on whatever the General in front of you was saying, you noticed in your peripheral view how Johnny was leaning towards you, his lips coming close to the shell of your ear.

“What’s got ye knickers in a twist, hen?”

He whispered, making the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stand up from the rumble as the stupid smirk on his face only grew wider.

Oh, but he knew exactly what was coming for him. And the longer he’d keep this little act up, the less forgiving you’d be.

…

Johnny’s eyes were glossed over, face twisted in a mixture of pure bliss and complete desperation as he kneeled naked on the fluffy carpet on your bedroom floor, right in front of the bed that you were currently laying on.

You, fully nude as well, legs spread wide with a perfect view of your dripping, puffy pussy that you kept running your fingers through, the slickness collecting on them as you rubbed your swollen clit in lazy circles while keeping eye contact with him.

“Please, bonnie, ah be a good boy for ye, please, lemme touch ye…”

He sounded pathetic, the way his voice was all whiney and dripping with unsatisfied need, dark brows furrowed.

His hands that he so desperately wanted to roam your body with were tied behind his back with a silken rope, tight enough to make his fingers slightly numb.

Was he still technically able to get out of it? Surely.

But deep down he enjoyed this kind of self torturing way too much to do anything about it as he placed his chin on the white duvet to the edge of the bed, eyes completely transfixed on the movement of your fingers against your sensitive flesh, mouth slightly agape as the slick sound made his balls tighten.

He was a goner and it was so obvious.

“Oh, now you wanna be my good boy?” You taunted, raising a brow, trying to hold back the breathy noises that wanted to escape from the sheer pleasure of watching him so helpless and needy.

“You’ve been a menace all day and now you want me to allow you to touch?”

The tone of your voice alone made his rock hard cock throb with need, pre cum leaking from his tip all the way down his shaft.

“Please, “m sorry, lassie, so sorry… gon’ be better… lemme touch..”

There was a tremble in his body while he was trying to rut his aching cock against the ground in desperation, even with the constricted position he found himself in.

It would be a lie to say your pussy wasn’t reacting to that with leaking even more, two fingers now disappearing in your clenching hole as you gasped out.

“I don’t think you deserve it yet… maybe you should eat my pussy first and I might think about rewarding you if you do good, hm? My poor Johnny boy…”

It was your turn to smirk now, eyes full of lust and satisfaction on how the tables had turned within minutes of stepping into your own four walls.

And yet, Johnny was already planning on what to do try next time to get in this position.

He eagerly nodded and watched as you made your way to the edge of the bed, legs hooking invitingly over his shoulders before he let out a low growl from the back of his throat, eyes almost rolling back at the first touch of his warm wet tongue against your equally wet cunt, savoring the flavor of your arousal.

“Fuuuck, s’good… gonnae cum just like that..”

“You better fucking not or there won’t be any touching for the rest of the night, baby”

You warned, looking down at him as his blue orbs widened, a sound close to a whimper leaving him as he tried his best to hold back the approaching orgasm while continuing his tongue work.

Perverted fucker loved being a menace if it meant he got to do this.

I love myself a Johnny who wants to be all cocky and teasing but then turns a big subby pup behind closed doors ugh

It already started with a way too long mission briefing on Monday morning that caused him to leave base way later than he'd hoped for, a tightness in his temples that made him frown all the way back home.

On Tuesday, he got into an argument with Price about some intel approach, a target they've been going for since a while now, and as much as he respected his captain and even considered him one of his closest people in the military, their stupid disagreement left him in a sour mood for the rest of the day.

And as if the stars had decided to misaligne for him alone that week, the next two days, he had to deal with stupid paper work and training rookies and privates who thought it was funny to push each others egos, resulting in a lot of yelling, making them run laps in the sun until one of them - the one who had been shit talking since minute one - threw up on Simons boots.

Friday came by and he found himself counting down the minutes until he could leave, leg bouncing impatiently under the table as his eyes flickered up every couples minutes to check the time from the papers in front of him that he couldn't really seem to focus on at all anymore.

Once the clock striked 2pm - luckily he was able to leave earlier on Fridays - the 6 foot something mountain of a man jumped to his feet, pushing the file that he was going through into the drawer of the desk, shutting it hurriedly before he rushed out of the office and down the hallway, making his way out of base with a confused look of Soap and Gaz who crossed his paths, looking after him with tilted heads.

"Ye see tha'? Lt 'bout tae zoom home." Johnny mumbled, a smirk growing on his lips.

"Mhm. Maybe got something good waiting for him." Gaz replied, yet unaware of how right he was.

Simon indeed sped home, any limits none of his concern as he pressed his boot down on the gas pedal, the truck flying down the streets to make time.

Barely ten minutes later, he pulled up in the driveway, unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of the car as fast as humanly possible, the sight of your car there too making his pulse quicken.

You had been on a work related trip for the week, not able to help Simon much with how miserable his own was going except for a few comforting texts, phone calls... and maybe a picture of your tits spilling from your bra in the bathroom of a restaurant you had been going with some business partners, knowing that would be more of use for him.

So when the front door basically burst open, you turned around to face your husband, his chest heaving, tension from his body already leaving the moment his still blackish smudged eyes met yours in the hallway. It was your house rule that he wouldn't wear the balaclava around inside, therefore you could see the in the tired lines of his scarred face.

Your arms opened up silently inviting him in, knowing that what he needed the most now was your comfort.

But what you didn't expect, resulting in a high pitched squeal and giggle, was how Simon came up immediately, wrapping his bulky arms around your waist and lifting you up in the air, throwing you over his shoulder and carrying you into the living room without so much as a gruff.

Once your body hit the soft fabric of the creme colored couch, he didn't even wait for any questions from your side, his fingers immediately hooking into the waist band of your flowy shorts that you'd been wearing.

You looked down at him, seeing his pupils blown wide, his tongue subconsciously licking over his dry lips as he gazed at you like you were his salvation.

"Si?"

"Need to taste m'wife... week was shite... head hurts...need yer pretty little cunt..."

Your breath hitched, body shivering as he pulled your shorts down along with the panties that already began to stick to your folds the moment he had laid you on the couch.

Seconds later, Simons face was buried between your soft thighs, nostrils flaring as he took a sniff that made heat rise to your cheeks in embarrassment.

"Fuckin' hell, smells so good...already feel better, lovie"

It was all it took for him to begin feasting on your pussy for the next hour or so, alternating between teasing nips, broad licks up and down your folds and precise flicks to your sensitve clit until you came multiple times on his tongue, writhing underneath his grip on your thighs as your own fingers were tugging at his blonde strands that were bordering military regulations.

As much as you felt bad for how he struggled to make it through the week, you'd never get tired of his way to relieve all the pent up tension between your legs. And you knew he loved it, too.

Yup, you were screwed.

Had been last night, to be precise, but now you were absolutely unsure on how to handle that situation. And since it was literally driving you nuts sitting with your thoughts - and a slight hangover to add - alone, you decided to grab your phone from the couch table next to you and dial the one person you trusted the most.

"Hell-hoe" Your best friend on the other side of the line dramatically answered per usual. You remembered the horrendous picture of you that she chose to put whenever you called.

You were slightly tipsy that night and agreed to try on a pair of black plastic glasses with a penis as a "nose" attachment that was actually part of a party game. Yeah, she was that unhinged to not care about whenever it would pop up in public places when you called.

"Hi gurly. I need your help. Advice. Whatever you wanna call it."

"Shoot. That sounds juicy already."

You let out a deep sigh. The thing was, you had already told your best friend about your little stupid crush on the SAS soldier that you had met that one time the both of you went out together at the corner pub. She had immediately agreed that he was hot - no doubt about that, anyone with eyes could tell - but also, like the good friend she was, warned you about how military men usually were the epitome of a red flag.

Always gone, late or no replies, priorities that mostly didn't include any form of relationship or serious commitment, leaving their spouse constantly worried and lonely.

Well, seems like you didn't get the memo or just lacked of actual care about those specific things. Which is what eventually lead you to visiting that pub a few more times - without her - and getting to know the charming man with the heavy scottish accent that made tingles run down your spine.

"Okay, so... remember that soldier from the pub?"

"Oh no, y/n ... what did you do?"

"So uh... turns out his name is Johnny and he's really good. Like... in bed."

"Y/n! You had sex with that dude?! When?"

"Yesterday. Well, we were both pretty damn drunk but it was still probably the best sex I ever had. And I know I sound insane but I don't want this to be a one time thing and I know what you said about this and I get it but maybe-"

"Easy there, tiger. Take a breath", she giggled.

"I think I'm fucked, girl. I think I'm getting attached to a dude who I met a few times in a bar then let him fuck my brains out."

Another sigh - now more in resignation - left you as you let yourself fall back onto the carpet with a thud, having sat up slightly throughout the call so far.

"Well, I'd be lying if I said this is an ideal situation but you know that I love to feed your delulus so maybe... I don't know, he's different?"

A scoff left your throat as her voice was anything but convinced about her own words.

"For starters... did you sleep over?"

"I did but I left early enough before he woke up..."

"That isn't very helpful with the fact that you probably want to see him again, you know that, right?"

She spoke and you could feel the awkward smile through the words.

"Thanks for making me panic even more", you answered bluntly.

"No! We can fix that somehow. I mean, do you have his number?"

You made a noise trying to imitate a red buzzer.

"Amazing", your bestie sighed. "That makes things more-"

Before she could even finish her sentence and continue to come up with other options to make this situation any less complicated, you suddenly were startled by a knock on the front door of your apartment.

Furrowing your brows in confusion, you sat up yet again and scrambled to your feet.

"Let me call you back in a moment"

You hung up the phone call, sure that it was maybe just the mailman or something similar, ready to call back your friend for a deeper discussion and advise in a bit.

...

But all of that went out the window the moment you opened the door, eyes widening immediately at the tan, buff man with the silly mohawk smirking down at you while leaning against the doorframe.

His equally silly and big biceps bulged as he crossed his arms, blue eyes set on your frame as if it didn't make your cheeks burn in a faint rosy hue from feeling so exposed in your joggers and loose shirt situation.

"Uh... how did you-"

"Well, hello there, lass. I dinnae ken that ya looked so cute in da mornin'. Dinnea have ta run from me, hm?"

Johnnys smirk grew as he took a slow step forward, backing you into the open space of your living area, watching you intensely, arms unfolding slowly. "I uh... I had to... I was..."

"Dinnea fuck' wit me, bonnie. Ye chickened out, did ye?"

Your defeated silence was everything he needed to hear - or not hear -to continue on while slowly stepping into your apartment, closing the door behind him like he was entering his own four walls and not an apartment he hadn't set foot into before.

You fidgeted with your hands, biting your lip which didn't go unnoticed by Johnny as his blue eyes flickered down towards the plush of them for just a fraction of a moment before they went back to meet yours, an eyebrow raising in question. "Well, I was... nervous."

You admit, turning around and leading him towards the living room, thanking whoever was above that you decided to clean your apartment just two days prior and haven't really had the time to make it a mess yet again.

Gesturing towards the couch for him to sit, you made your way towards your fridge and took out a bottle of water, not having much more to offer at the current moment before also taking down two glasses from the cupboard above and filling them, handing him one once you returned to the couch and taking your own seat.

"I haven't really done any... one night situations. I didn't know if you wanted me to even stay, I heard that usually you're not supposed to-"

"Who told ye that?"

"I mean, some of my friends-"

"Sorry tae say, hen, but ah think they never met any real men then"

Your face flushed once more as you tried to avoid his gaze, suddenly too aware about his presence in your home.

You could smell the heady scent of his aftershave and the warmth of his thigh that was subconsciously - or probably not - pressing into yours from where he was sitting way too close for it to be coincidence after all. "Ah ken that we had a fair bit o' liquor yesterday but I still remember everythin'. And I ken ye do too."

You gulped slightly upon feeling the warmth of his large hand suddenly resting on your thigh, comforting with an undertone of something you couldn't quite put your finger on yet.

"So let's be honest, bon. Why'd ye run from me?"

"I was worried, okay?"

"Abou' what?" You suddenly gave in, meeting his eyes once more, vulnerability shining in your own orbs yet something in your stomach flipped pleasently while he was looking at you with a reassuring smile.

"How this would change the way we interact. It was always so easy to talk to you and.. I don't know, maybe I thought now that you saw me naked and, to be fair, in the most odd angles..."

You bit your lip for a moment, the memories of last night replaying in your head for a second too long, the way his hands felt up your body like it was an actual work of art.

"Plus, your job isn't exactly made for something serious."

"So ya want somethin' serious?"

You gasped, shocked about how you didn't even notice that those words slipped you in the first place, your face beet red and your pulse quickening. Oh fuck... now, you figured this was going to be a little bit of an uncomfortable talk but you obviously needed to go for even worse. Which made you decide to be honest since you had already dug your own grave with slipping up like that.

"What if I did?"

"Well..."

He began, trailing off for a moment because honestly, Johnny was a menace and he enjoyed seeing you so squirmish after confessing. Another smirk - one you wanted to punch and kiss him senseless for on equal parts - started to slip on his unfairly handsome face as he continued.

"Ah think in that case, ye have to let me take ye out properly, don't ye think?"

You blinked a few times, having already having played out the way worse reaction in your head, so hearing him actually offering to go out and getting to know each other better - maybe even in a more profound way? That kinda caught you off guard.

"But... you're always on duty and your priorities are probably set on that so..."

"Hen. Listen..."

Johnny didn't hesitate once, reaching out and rather carefully grabbing your hands in his, his thumbs rubbing soothingly over your knuckles, grounding you.

"Ah get that ye've got these... stereotypical thoughts of a soldiers life but.. I set ma own priorities. And if ah decide tae make ye one o' 'em, I will."

The unusual seriousness of his deep voice made you squirm slightly, feeling your grip tighten around his hands that were holding your own, listening intensely as he continued on.

"I like yer company and if ye promise me not tae run from me again, we can try it. If ye want, that is."

His eyes were hopeful, head slightly tilting to wait for your response, anticipating what you had to say.

Your palms got slightly sweaty in his grip from the nerves running through you, but a deep breath helped you settle as you decided for yourself - this time without the influence of anyone.

"Okay"

You whispered, a gentle, nervous smile making its way on your lips as you agreed.

"Let's try this."

Johnnys own smile was wide as his eyes shone at your words, crinkling at the edges as he let go of one of your hands, just to grip your chin with his fingers and pull your face closer, gaze flicking down to your lips one last time before he pressed his lips to yours in a deep, all consuming kiss, stealing the air from your lungs, something that almost seemed silly if you thought about what other things he did to you the night prior to have the same effect.

Not able to help himself, he nipped slightly on your lower lip, making you gasp before he pulled away with a rumbling chuckle.

"Ye really are a cute lassie. Ah cannae wait tae bring ye aroun' more."

And somehow, you did believe him and that made trying worth it, didn't it?

The phone call with your bestie, though? Long forgotten, sorry not sorry.

A deep sigh rang out through the room as you slowly sat up from your current position, your muscles aching, tired and feeling heavy from the mission you and the rest of the task force had returned from just mere hours ago. As soon as debrief was over and Price had let you all go, you made a beeline for the rec room, knowing that it would usually take no time for it to get occupied. Most likely by Johnny. As much as you loved him as one of your closest friends in the military, the Scot just couldn't keep quiet for the love of god and that is all that you needed for the moment.

Right after sitting up, you suddenly made out the sound of heavy footsteps down the hallway, coming closer with each step, probably ending your peace within the next minute. Amazing. Your gaze drifted towards the door just in time to see the broad frame of a huge six foot something behemoth of a man in a skull mask entering the room, holding two paper cups in his hands that looked comically small with the size of his paws. "Hey Simon", you greeted, a soft smile starting to spread on your lips upon seeing him making his way over to you, the usual gloomy aura following him but not scaring you off. It never did. Funny enough, it was somehow one of the things that drew you in from the very moment you were assigned to the Task Force 141 about seven months ago. But given that Simon was a rather private person who kept to himself let alone trust others, you never really made much of a move to get to know him first handed but rather stuck to observing. Something the both of you had in common. That's how you slowly learned about what his body language meant along with some of his routines. Usually, he would be either in the gym or getting ready to hit the pub with the other lads, most likely forced but then still enjoying it in the end. So it came as a surprise when he suddenly stood in front of you, or more like towering, given the fact you were seated, and suddenly held out one of the cups in his hand, not a single word leaving his lips as he stared at you, silently urging you to take it. You blinked a few times, clearly surprised, feeling heat creeping up your cheeks as you took the cup from his gloved hands, not sure if you were imagining feeling the warmth of him from beneath the fabric as his fingers lingered just a moment longer than strictly necessary. "Uh... thank you...?" You mumbled, immediately regretting how weird it sounded as his body went a little rigid. But you couldn't really help the confusion about his gesture. " 's tea. The one ya like. Chamomile." He suddenly answered your unspoken question, voice sounding rough and gravely from disuse through the mask, but not unkind. Your eyes widened at that, not having expected such a thoughtful thing from him at all and not understanding how'd you deserve it. What you didn't know was that Simon was observing you probably just as much as you did him, taking his callsign pretty serious while doing so and staying in the shadows while memorizing tiny details about you. How you were always the first person to enter the briefing room for the mere fact of sitting in your usual spot, too embarrassed to eventually having to cause a scene because someone else would end up sitting there and therefore trying to avoid it by being early enough. The way you started to clench your fists repeatedly whenever you got nervous talking to higher ups. And frankly, the way you always hauled ass towards the rec room first thing after a meeting to unwind... and oddly enough, your tea preferences. So... was this his way of... flirting? No, that would be insane. He definitely isn't the type to be interested in a relationship, probably not in anything remotely romantic in general. Simon was clearly only focus on his duty in the military, there was no time for distractions. He probably was just getting something to drink for himself and was feeling generous enough to bring you something as well. Nothing to overthink, right? "That's very kind of you, Si. Thank you" You spoke, the nickname tumbling from your lips uncontrolled. Your breath hitched upon realizing, eyes widening as your cheeks yet again dusted in a rosy color, though from embarrassment this time. You barely just started to call him by his first name at all, nicknames was a whole other level that you were sure you weren't on in the slightest. "I'm so-"

"Don' be. 's okay." He immediately interrupted, something in his amber gaze softening as he kept looking at you, holding his own cup in his hand while shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Oh.. uh, okay. Thanks again. You really didn't have to"

"I know. But I wanted to."

Another smile spread on your lips involuntarily, wider this time, as you nodded slightly and sat up a little more again, clearing your throat.

"Well, I appreciate it. Truly."

Simon kept awkwardly standing there for a moment before slowly turning around on the spot, secretly having never been more glad to wear the mask while his cheeks were glowing with heat underneath it.

He made it to the door, your gaze following him while trying to understand whatever cryptic interaction this might've been between the two of you, before looking over his shoulder one last time, his eyes meeting yours in a fleeting exchange of unspoken words that would take time to unravel for the both of you, speaking once more with a more tender voice. "See ya tomorrow, Y/N. Relax some more."

As fast as he had come, he was gone again, true to his nature. It left you speechless, looking down at the brown paper cup with the white plastic lit sitting in your hands, still warm. But the smile never left your lips as you brought the drink up, taking a sip of the contents, a giddy feeling in your stomach blooming, thoughts drifting off to what this interaction might've started for the unforeseeable future and how you could return the favor. And Simon? He was standing just outside the rec room in the middle of the hallway, his mask barely pulled above his lips, a slight smirk spreading on his chapped lips, the scar crossing it pulling tight from the movement. Oh, he was so proud of his flirting skills. Chuckling silently to himself, he lifted his own cup to his lips, the taste of chamomile flooding him. His nose scrunched. He didn't like chamomile, but he liked you, and that was enough for him to finish the full cup while his footsteps disappeared down the hall. Maybe next time, he would finally be brave enough to actually have a proper conversation with you but for today, he was done testing his luck.