#buff men

The suspects just had to go and do something stupid.

Like what, you may ask?

Oh, I don’t know… Maybe take in hostages and accidentally make a supposedly dead virus into explosives.

You read it right. EXPLOSIVES.

“Sir, we’ve got traces of explosives nearby, and the suspects took hostages. We’re not sure the number,” Tundra came through the radio, her voice holding a grim tone.

“Secure the hostages and explosives! If possible, get the suspects, but prioritize the innocents first,” the Captain replied, running with Night Howl and Canine after the suspects they spotted.

“This day got a helluva more interesting,” Umber Eyes said under his breath.

Chris cursed under his breath, “Fucking BSAA can’t clean up their messes.”

The team’s sniper tackled one of the suspects, “On the ground!”

Tundra pointed her gun at the other one, “Hands in the air!” The three were able to surround them, making them unable to escape. “Where are the explosives?” Chris asked the supposed leader.

The man just sneered back, “I ain’t telling you jack shit.” “You might want to rethink your answer. Because I can still get answers from you even if I shoot your leg,” the male dressed in black replied curtly, pointing his pistol at the suspect’s leg.

This dawned on the leader making him curse, “Fuck…! Fine…I told the rest of my gang to head into the city with them…” Umber Eyes checked his watch. “They must be near already.” Chris nodded at the information given before turning away, “Take these bastards away.” “Canine? What's your status?” He went to speak to the rest of his team. “Near the city. We’ve got them, but some explosives were smuggled in. There might–”

Before he could finish, the ground started to rumble thanks to the distant sounds of explosions. “Fuck me…” Chris muttered when staring at the clouds of smoke.

“Get to the site as soon as possible! And secure the perimeter!” The captain shouted in the comms before making his way to the Toyota Hilux to get there himself.

“There you go. You should be fine,” a soft voice told a child after tying a bandage around their arm.

The child smiled with a nod before running to his mother.

“We’ve got 2 more,” a male nurse said to the woman.

She wore a red ribbon around her right arm, signalling her alignment with the medical team sent to help the people affected by the explosions.

“Okay, I’ve got more beds in this tent!” She smiled, gesturing to the two cots, “You’ll be treated and safe here.” They thanked her immensely before she left to deal with the rest of the problems. 

“Yes, thank you. Please carry it over here,” She smiled, directing many people to place the medical supplies, food, and necessities for the casualties. 

“Boss! More incoming!” Someone called out to her.

“Coming!” She shouted back, running over to help.

On Chris’ end, his team made it and found the remnants of the explosives.

“We defused the rest, they won’t be terrorizing the city,” Tundra said, standing with Umber Eyes. Chris nodded, “Good. Any casualties?”

“None. Just a bunch of civies that were injured by the shockwave,” answered Canine, surveying the area, “I assume they exploded the devices while they headed here,” he said about the arrested suspects.

“Okay, check the area. Be careful of the BSAA; they might know about our whereabouts.” The leader of the squad ordered.

The group exchanged similar responses before separating again.

The captain was with Tundra and Umber Eyes as they looked around to see not much damage, just some shattered glass and a lot of things out of place.

“Kind of surprised there's a unit stationed out here,” Umber Eyes mumbled.

“I’m not sure it’s a unit, it’s probably some civilians helping each other,” Tundra said her theories. “They don’t bear any official markings.” Chris took note of the many people wearing a blue bandanna around their left arm, “Keep up your guard, anything could happen. And try to find the leader.”

After walking around, Tundra walked up to a worker and asked who the leader was. The woman smiled, “Oh! You’re talking about our boss! She’s at the big tent over there, she wears a red bandanna. She’s a complete sweetheart.”

“Okay, well that was easy,” Umber Eyes shrugged.

They quickly found the largest tent to be in the middle of the perimeter that the civilians created for on-site medical tents.

“Could she be it?” Umber Eyes questioned.

“Maybe,” Tundra replied.

When Chris laid his eyes on the person, he immediately recognized who it was.

It was you.

 You were treating a patient before asking for one of the volunteers to help them inside a tent.

Before thinking, he walked, his long strides eating up the distance between you two.

“Captain?” Tundra called out to him, “Sir?” Umber Eyes, too, but he ignored them. All his mind had was you.

Thankfully, you noticed the large man standing a few feet from you. Well, how couldn’t you, considering Chris’s size?

“There you are,” you smiled at him, standing up to greet him, “I suppose the threat is over?”

A wave of relief and calmness washed over him when he saw your smile, “Yeah. It is.” He placed his large hand on her arm, it trailed down to hold her hand, “Are you alright?” He asked, his gruff voice holding a tone of softness, only for her.

You nodded, “I’m fine. I’m just helping out. Got word and signed my team to be dispatched here. We’re not doing much, but we want to help.” “I didn’t think you’d accept it since it's on the other side of the state. But it’s you we’re talking about, I know you’d drop everything to help others,” Chris noted, holding a note of pride about how noble you were. A small smile appeared on your lips, “Hey. I didn’t get a degree for nothing.” You joked lightly before your eyes softened, “I’m alright. Promise.”

“Thank God,” he breathed out, “I’m glad you are.” You let out a small chuckle, “What? Worried I was going to run towards danger?” He scoffed slightly, although it turned into a small airy laugh, “Knowing you. Maybe.”

“You know me too well,” You teased, “A bit too well.”

“I’m your husband, of course I do,” Chris replied.

He lifted your hand in his, raising it delicately as if you were a flower, “But seriously. I’m glad you’re alright…I wouldn’t know what I’d do if you were hurt.” He pressed a gentle kiss to where your ring is.

“Maybe blow up your enemies and anyone who dared to lift a finger against me?” You joked. He held a small smirk, “Yeah, that sounds like what I’d do.”

“How about you?” You asked, “You okay?”

“Tired, but fine, thanks for asking, sweetheart,” Chris replied.

You gave a small hum, eyes glancing at his form, “Have you been smoking?”

He sighed, knowing he got caught, “I know, I know. It’s bad for me…I’ll cut back a little this month.” “I’d rather you cut back for the rest of your life. You’re not getting any younger, love,” You lectured him lightly. Chris gave an incredulous look, “Are you calling me old?”

You softly laughed, “No, no. I meant that–”

“Really? ‘Cause I think you just called me old indirectly,” Chris cut you off while you tried to stifle your giggles.

“I mean, isn’t pushing 50 kind of old?” You asked innocently with a mischievous smile.

Chris raised an eyebrow at that, “Hey, you’re only 3 years younger than me.”

“And that’s a lot! Plus, it’s almost 4 years so,” You corrected. The tall male just threw his head back a little while subtly rolling his eyes, “You’re unbelievable…”

“You seeing this?” Umber Eyes asked Tundra. “Our captain smiling and speaking without a care in the world to a woman who he kissed her hand? Yeah, I see it,” she replied sarcastically, “He never told us…” “Probably because he wanted to keep it secret,” He suspected.

The two approached the couple, “Sir, the others are coming in our direction.” Tundra informed, not wanting to impose too much.

Chris’s face turned serious in a split second, “Got it. Inform of the updated status of the explosives.” You looked between the two figures and your husband before realizing who they were, “Ah. You must be part of Chris’s team.” Umber Eyes nodded, “Yeah, we are. Sorry if we’re imposing.” “No, no, it’s fine. Really. You were doing your job, the people here are used to this a little,” you waved your hands around to dismiss it.

“You must be the leader of this group, right? Thanks for helping out,” Tundra gestured to the nurses and volunteers. You smiled, “Mhm! We just wanted to provide comfort to those around us.”

The rest of the team arrived with the help of Umber Eyes. Making you realize just how tall these people are.

Noticing Chris’s silence, you glanced at him and realized he was staring at you. Your cheeks felt warm at his staring, and you lightly tapped his forearm, gesturing to his team.

“It’s improper not to introduce others, Captain,” you whispered.

Chris blinked once and realized his stupor and soon cleared his throat, “Right. Sorry.”

“Team…This is my wife,” he introduced you, saying your name and his surname.

You waved at them, “Hello! Nice to meet you. Thank you for all your hard work,” you said softly.

“It’s nothing, really,” Umber Eyes shrugged as Canine looked his way but said nothing.

Night Howl spoke after, “So…You’ve been married to the Captain for how long?”

“8 years,” you answered proudly, “almost 9. It will be our anniversary soon.”

“And he’s kept you a secret this whole time?” Umber Eyes questioned as Canine sent him a look for him to stop talking.

Chris let out a short breath, knowing his team was going to be curious, you chuckled and answered, “Yes. Even before our marriage. I’ve been with Chris for 15 years.”

Umber Eyes was going to say more before his boss gave him a sharp look, which made him immediately step down. “Told you so…” Canine shook his head, muttering a little at his teammate’s ignorance.

You, on the other hand, gently hit your husband’s forearm, “Oh, please. They were merely asking. It’s not like they wanted my social security number.” You chastised softly.

“Right, right. Sorry. Won’t happen again,” Chris apologized sheepishly with a lighter tone than usual.

Umber Eyes secretly gestured to the others in slight surprise, shocked by how someone that only reaches about the captain’s mid bicep can easily scold him with mere words.

“Honnestly, it’s no surprise he’d want to keep you secret,” Tundra noted.

You gave a small shrug with a sigh, “The cons of being married to a soldier. Specifically a Captain.”

“It’s to ensure your safety and my sanity. To which it’s at its wits end sooner than expected,” Chris answered truthfully.

You covered a part of your mouth to whisper something, “He’s just really protective... But he’s a teddy bear…”

The said “teddy bear” glanced your way as you quickly pretended to look somewhere else, humming a soft tune to avoid his gaze.

“Teddy bear…” Umber Eyes pursed his lips tightly under his mask, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Moving on.” Chris’ sharp tone brought the team back on alert. 

“We still have a job to do. We need to secure and pack up the explosives before the BSAA gets their hands on it,” The Team leader told his team.

The soldiers nodded and went their separate ways to collect all the defused explosives to put them somewhere safe.

“So? I guess this is where we part ways, hm?” You asked, staring up at your spouse.

Chris’ eyes softened when holding your gaze, “I wish I didn’t need to. But, I don’t want you or anyone else hurt. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I deliberately brought harm to you.”

You nodded gently, “I understand,” reaching for his face as he instinctively lowered his head so you could touch his face.

“Be safe.” You advised, “And don’t–”, “–Don’t show up with scratches on my face or else you’ll kick my ass. I know the drill, sweetheart,” he interrupted gently.

You smiled, “Good. Means I don’t need to repeat myself.” You lightly punched his shoulder, “Give ‘em hell, Big guy.”

A small smirk appeared on his lips, “Yes, ma’am.” He replied before walking away to join his team.