You notice him. Even if he doesn't talk, you notice him. You'll greet him in the hallways, ask how his day has been going with questions that can be answered with a nod or a shake of the head.

He's so un-used to being seen like this that it warms his heart, even if you do still get startled by him every now and then when he shows up out of no where in the med-bay standing at the door which you had only glances away from for a few moments.

He'll sit with you behind the front desk when he has time, you'll talk, telling him about your day and how many patients you've had and how stupid the new team coming to train at the base is because who in their right mind thinks its okay to run with a knife in hand???

Sometimes he'll scribble something in response onto a post-it, you'll read it and smile because every time he writes you something he'll doodle a little bug at the end.

Occasionally he comes in with a paper cut, or some other sort of injury which you patch up happily. You bought a separate tin of bandaids with little bug patterns on them solely to be used for him.

You love him, you really do, you love spending time with him, talking to him, reading his responses. You even take it upon yourself to learn sign-language in attempts at bettering your communication.

Roach nearly cries when you sign "I love you" to him the first time, he nearly cries when you use sign-language for the first time period. He pulls you into a rib-crushing hug, you forget how strong he is sometimes with how gentle he is with you.

<3

~~~

You and your boyfriend, Gary ‘Roach’ Sanderson, are reunited after his deployment…but none of his team have met you yet…

gary 'roach' sanderson x f!reader 𓂃۶ৎ

wc: 0.8k

rating: suitable for all

warnings: established relationship, kissing, cuddling, gentle and loving fluff, f!reader in mind, use of lass/lassie, pet names like baby and honey, mentions of marriage.

a/n: I know the Roach fanbase is a lot smaller than the other boys but I will forever love him, I love writing for him as in my mind he is very shy and sweet (which is my idea of a perfect man 🫣) I have been drafting this for a while, it's nothing special just a little piece for my Roach lovers x

Roach was fed up, tired and ready for a home cooked meal. He missed his bed, his dog, and most of all you.

His loving, beautiful, caring girlfriend…that was totally a secret from his teammates.

His lovely girl who was waiting for him in the car park, leant against the car with your coat pulled close around you and anxiously checking your watch.

He hurried out of the van and across the car park to you, ignoring the boys as he saw you standing there. It felt like all of the blood, sweat and tears of the mission were worth it when he saw you stood there waiting on him.

It felt like he meant something.

His arms wrapped around you as he kissed your face all over between soft sobs and gentle strokes of your hair. A shy, loving smile tried to break through his tears that poured down his freckled cheeks that were littered in new nicks and scars from his most recent op.

He pulled you closer and buried his nose in your neck as his fingers grasped at the back of your dress as he cried. Soft, sweet sobs that were saved just for you.

He pulled back to quickly sign, “Baby, I missed you…missed you so much…I love you, love you so much, so beautiful…” as tears poured down his rosy cheeks.

A soft smile graced your lips as you blinked back tears and steadied his hands, gently interlinking your fingers and whispered, “Baby, missed you too…it's okay, just breathe,”

He breathed softly and sniffled with a shy smiled as he squeezed your hands tightly, trying to convey his pure love and affection for you. An impatient pace grew in his squeezing as he pulled you closer.

He smiled and leant in to kiss your forehead and gently let go of your hands to rub your back and hold you close. His lips pressed to your forehead again and again as he rubbed your back, holding you against him.

Little did he know, the boys were all standing watching him in pure shock. What was going on? Who was this girl? How long had this been happening?

As Gary kissed down from your temple to your lips whilst you both giggled and sniffled back tears, a loving and gentle reunion happened in the car park. His fingers gently curling around your locket as he held you closer by the second as he kissed you so sweetly.

“Roach?” Price eventually called, causing Gary to break from the kisses to look over at Price. You smiled and kissed his cheek before glancing over at the boys.

“Alright Lass,” He nodded politely (Soap, Gaz and Ghost just nodded awkwardly) before adding, “Roach, Lad…I’ll shove your stuff in your car,” Before turning to drag the boys to the van to collect their luggage and head to their cars, Gary turned to giggle and lift you into his arms. His face was tear stained, but his smile and freckles slowly eased his sad expression as he held you in his arms.

He carried you to the car, smiling and huffing as he opened the passenger door for you. He gently fastened the seatbelt and kissed your nose before signing: “I’ll be back in a second…I need to say goodbye to the boys…”

You smiled and nodded as you watched him hurry over to his team with a shy grin. Like the same nervous boy he had always been, except now something was different. He seemed comfortable around all of his friends, maybe it was because you were there? Maybe it was how close he was with the boys?

As he approached, Soap slung an arm around him and chuckled, “Who’s the lassie then?” as Gaz and Simon helped pester him.

Roach flushed and signed: “My girlfriend,” as he looked up for approval from the boys, which he did in fact receive before Price replied, “How long you pair been together then?”

A wave of nerves washed over Roach as he signed: “Since we were in secondary school…we were 16,” as he blushed. Soap was overly excited as he kept his arm around Gary and murmured, “Fuckin’ ‘ell…and you're whot, 22 now mate?” causing Roach to look down at his boots shyly, leaning into Soap as a way of giving in. Admitting that Soap was in fact right.

“You going to marry her, mate?” Gaz asked almost gently to break Roach from his thoughts, as he glanced over at the car. A quiet pride seeped into his tone, almost an older brother like behaviour, a pride in Roach's actions and his love for you.

Gary nodded shyly and sighed: "One day...I hope so anyway..." before stealing another glance at you in the car and waved shyly as Soap squeezed his shoulder.

The boys continued laughing and teasing as you sat in the car watching contently as Gary signed and laughed with the boys. Affection ran through your heart as you gazed lovingly, seeing your boyfriend in his own environment.

It was like seeing a shy deer growing more confident around it’s friends. Your sweet boyfriend was so expressive and sweet with his friends, it was nice to know he had people who cared for him at work. A place that you couldn't visit to care for him, a place that was so far from the warmth of your shared flat.

The more you watched, the more you realised this man was your future husband, he was perfect in every shy way.

tattoo-artist!roach is one of the quieter guys in the studio. specializes in the little tattoos, pretty little minimalistic pieces. most of his clients take it on their fingers, their shoulders, ankles, anywhere that's cute and convenient. plus his sessions never last too long, so he's used to getting it done very quickly.

so it's his huge surprise that you come waltzing in and asking for him to ink you up. but you want it right below your underwear line, on the left side of your inner hip where your mound is. when roach finds this out, he prays that he can get it done in record time. that whatever you're asking for won't make it last more than an hour because he doesn't know what he'll do if he has to get his face so close to your intimate parts. he wouldn't be able to look at your pretty face before, during, and after the session. tries not to let his thoughts stray too far when imagining inking you there.

doesn't even know how he's gonna ask you how to get prepared for it! should he ask you to just pull down your underwear at the waistband? or would you have to take it off entirely so your hands aren't in the way of his? how is he gonna hold his arms so they aren't pressing into you at a weird angle? it's kind of cute, the way he panics.

you can see the way his leg bounces up and down when you sit in the chair, how he dilly dallys with his tools.

"you doing okay?" you'll teasingly ask. when you walked in, the other guys in the parlour asked you to take it easy on roach. but it's a liiittle too tempting not to mess with him.

"perfect," his answers quickly. bites his lip as he looks directly at your crotch, around the area he's supposed to tattoo. realizes what he's done and immediately honed in on that so he jolts his head up to your amused face. "uh, how do you wanna get this started?"

you just laugh at the way he sends you a shaky smile. "i'm okay doing it however you want to." he lets out a huff as he thinks of how best to approach this.

"well, we could... if you want to keep everything on then you can just hold it out of the way?" he tries while motioning towards your hips. he bites his lip and adverts his gaze again. "or if you're comfortable taking it all off, i can go grab a towel from the back to make sure you're all covered up."

"why, don't want to see me?" you tease him. it makes him turn red.

"no! i bet you're lovely!" he quickly says. then retracts his hands when they've jerked upwards in defense. he clears his throat and rubs his neck. "uh, i think your body's lovely. i mean... i just didn't think you'd want to expose yourself to me. er, well, in the parlour. you know?"

you chuckle and decide to relent on him, not take too much notice on the fact he traced his eyes up the length of your body when he commented how he likes it. "i'll take the towel, thanks." he nods and gets up quickly. he returns and allows you to get ready in the bathroom wearing what's like a towel diaper that shows the side of your hip you want done.

roach is grateful that the piece you want is simple. and it's like he turns into a different person as he works on you. eyes focused and motions very confident. even his voice changes as you lightly chatter about things and whenever he checks in on you as he fills in the lines. when he's done and wipes at you, he gives you a bright smile and tells you that you can go dress yourself again. you appreciate how sweet he was, how respectful he's been. but you definitely noticed the way he had to shift his hips every now and then when putting his face so close to you and how you had to shift the towel to just barely hide yourself from him.

"take me to a more private place next time and i'll let you see the whole thing," you joke before getting up to get changed again. you turn before seeing his reaction. and when you finally come out after admiring the simple work he did, he hands you a little list of care instructions that have been pre-printed. sends you off cordially and you think that's that. you got to flirt and tease this cute guy and then go on your merry ways.

Roach approaches you in a bar, but he's painfully shy and is mute. So, between sharing drinks, talking through notes on a napkin, a little love blossoms…

gary 'roach' sanderson x f!reader ˚ ۪ ୨୧⊹.

wc: 1.5k

rating: suitable for all

warnings: Shy Roach my baby, little bit of kissing and cuddling, Soap and Ghost being older brothers to Roach, people interrupting him, he's like very anxious and stressed bless him, f!reader

a/n: I love this anxious man so much, he needs soo much more appreciation!! I wrote this on my lunch break yesterday so it’s a short one, but maybe more Roach to come in the future.

Roach’s trembling fingers gently clasped his beer, his shy eyes watched you singing along to the song playing in the bar and dancing with your friends. You seemed so confident and beautiful, he was completely below your league. But, as he gazed, your soft eyes caught his and his breath hitched.

“Oi, lad wha’ you starin’ at?” Soap asked softly as the other boys talked and laughed, he shifted closer and spoke like an older brother would. He's completely startled Roach, who tore his gaze from you to look at the older Scottish guy.

Roach blushed shyly as he tore his gaze from you and shyly sighed: ‘The pretty girl at the bar’

Soap grinned and looked over at you, before wrapping an arm over Roach’s shoulders and whispering, “Go talk to tha’ lassie,” with the biggest grin.

Roach shook his head and took another swig of his beer and looked at Soap, a look that said 'yeah good joke' or 'you're totally insane MacTavish' . Soap sighed and shifted back to look at him and raised an eyebrow, “Why no’ lad?” he asked quietly before nudging Ghost next to him, “Roach’s too scared to talk to tha’ lassie.”

Ghost took his turn to look at you and then to Roach, “She seems nice,” He mumbled before adding, “Worst she’ll say is no.”

Soap just grinned and ruffled Roach’s hair (which earned him a nudge and a glare) and muttered, “Go on, Lad.” Soap and Ghost were like older brothers to him, he knew they were right and he should go and speak to you, but nerves were eating him alive.

Roach reluctantly stood up, smoothing his t-shirt shyly and ran a hand over his hair. He quietly approached the bar and ordered a beer before sitting next to you at the bar.

Shyly clearing his throat, he signed 'hey' with trembling hands, ‘I’m Gary…I was sitting over with there with my friends-’

You cut him off by gently touching his arm and murmuring, “I’m sorry, honey…I don't know sign language, I’m so sorry,”

He blushed deeply and awkwardly fumbled with his beer, he chewed his lip anxiously as he shifted to stand up. The pure humiliation and embarrassment washed over his face, he was a genuinely sweet and attractive guy, but now he was about to get up and leave.

You instantly shook your head and rubbed his forearm, “No, no honey you don't have to leave…hang on I’ll get you a piece of paper…” you rambled softly and shyly.

You shuffled awkwardly and rooted through your handbag, pulled out a metal pen and leant over the bar to grab a napkin which you slid across the bar to him and smiled. A warm and inviting smile that made him feel seen, made him want to just lean over and hug you tightly.

He gently took the pen from between your fingers and scribbled: ‘I’m Gary, I was at the booth, I think you're so pretty (not in a creepy way)’

He smiled at you shyly as he looked up from the napkin, his fingers gently curling around one of your bracelets.

“Thank you, Gary…you're really handsome,” you replied softly as you decided to hold his hand instead of letting him cling to you, “I’d noticed you too, but I thought you were way out if my league…”

He squeezed your hand gently and scribbled: ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ which earned a nod from you.

He shyly signed his order to the bartender, who knew him and the taskforce as they were regular patrons at the pub near the base, who nodded and gave him a wink.

As your new drinks were poured, you squeezed his hand and murmured, “So…who are you, Gary?” in a comforting tone, which caused him to shift closer and start scribbling again.

‘Military sergeant (boys in the booth are my friends), mute (if it wasn't obvious already), 6’2 (I promise), call sign is Roach (i know stupid right?)’

You read his notes and giggled softly at his little remarks, squeezing his hand every time to silently communicate to him.

He smiled shyly and scribbled on the napkin again:

‘You're so pretty when you smile’

You smiled even more and blushed as he chuckled slightly, the song in the bar changed and you squeezed his hand.

“I love this song,” you murmured to him and looked over at a few people dancing in the corner of the pub. He noticed you looking and gently tugged your hand to dance with you, it felt like a bold move - the type of move Soap would make, but he wanted to impress you tonight.

He gently steered you to the small area where others were dancing and swaying, he wrapped an arm around your waist and swayed shyly. His cheeks were flushed a deep pink, his fingers trembled slightly.

He looked up and caught Simon and Johnny’s gazes and blushed even deeper, before he looked back at you and smiled.

You smiled back, causing his heart to hammer in his chest before he gently squeezed your waist. With a soft giggle, you gently wrapped your arms around him and swayed softly.

As the lights dimmed slightly in the pub, you hummed along to the song as Roach swayed you both. He grew slightly more confident as he started to gently hug you as he swayed, as if trying to convey his affection through actions rather than words. He felt overly forward, but he knew he had to be brave and affectionate so you knew what he was thinking and feeling.

You hummed softly and hugged him back, gently running your fingers through his messy hair. With a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxed and his eyes closed as he surrendered to your touch. A dorky smile graced his lips as you petted his hair and hummed along to the music, for once he felt like one of the other guys - confident, content and shyly wanting to kiss the girl he'd met at the bar.

As the song ended, he hugged you a little tighter before guiding you back to your seats at the bar to finish your drinks.

He gently leant in and tucked your hair behind your ear, grinning and blushing as he planted a gentle kiss on your cheek. Then another on the tip of your nose. Then another in the corner of your lips. Then a final one in your bottom lip.

You smiled softly against his lips as you gently stroked his cheeks as you held his face. He smiled so nervously and gently rubbed his cheek against your palm, before wrapping an arm around your waist to keep you close.

“So, do I get your number then, baby?” you asked softly as you gently held his face.

He nodded shyly, gently pulling you closer and kissing you again - a little shy peck to your lips. He’d do anything to hear you call him baby again, and my god did he want to give you his number.

He settled you against him before shyly pulling out his phone to push into your hands for you to dial your number in for him. He typed your name with one hand as the other gently stroked your hair, clearly he was an overly affectionate man behind his nerves.

The same dorky grin graced his lips as he watched you tap the numbers into his phone and look up at him with those pretty eyes. He gently stroked your hair from your face and smiled even brighter, it felt as if you were already making up for all the times girls had ignored him or chosen the more vocal boys in the group before.

So, he leant in to give you another kiss with a smile and a soft groan, a subtle way of trying to show you his feelings. His fingers gently tracing your back before he gently hugged you again, a quiet way of saying ‘thank you’.

You noticed, you felt his nerves radiating off of him, you felt his need to comfort and affection. So, you looked up and smiled, gently stroking his hair just as you had realised he liked, and murmured, “You're okay, baby…” to which he blinked quickly and hugged you closer, not wanting you to go.

He looked up tearfully at Soap, who smiled and bought over his jacket that he’d left at the table.

“We're leavin’ lad, back ta base…” Soap murmured softly, so as to not disturb you back. You heard Soap’s uttered words and looked up at Roach, smiled sadly before whispering, “Are you going now then?”

Roach nodded softly and stroked your hair before signing to Soap:

‘Tell her I’ll call, please…and that she's so sweet for wanting to spend time with me, she didn't have to and-’

But Soap gently settled him and turned to you, “He says he’ll call, lass…and he had a nice evenin’ w’a very pretty lassie like y’self.” You giggled softly and kissed Roach’s cheek, a soft confirmation that he had stolen your heart completely with his shy nature.

like. hes just so warm and huggable in my mind. He just needs someone to squeeze away all his bad dreams and worries :(((

Same with Gaz ngl, I feel like he would be very used to being the big spoon so the first time you guys spoon and hes the little spoon its so different and it makes his brain all fuzzy and warm.

but back to Gary, i think hes the kind of guy who gets really sleepy around his partner. He'll be sitting next to you watching you while leaning his arm on the table or arm rest and his eyes start to droop a bit. But you're so beautiful to him he just wants to keep looking at you but hes so eepy that he just cuddles up against your side and sighs out every so often :C

I need a Gary in my life hes such a sweetheart

~~~

He knows your preference of drink, how you take your coffee or tea, which restaurant is your favorite and what you order, your favorite color-- everything.

But he doesn't talk to you, he's shy, and he's worried his lack of verbal communication would put you off so he just watches from the sidelines.

Sometimes he'll get bold and leave a sticky note with a smiley face or a note on the wall near your desk.

Obviously you know whats going on; despite his attempts to be subtle its painfully obvious how infatuated he is with you.

I feel like he would still write to this day, mostly short poems and things like that and most of them are either about things he sees or war. My poor traumatized bug boy </3

He uses the back of his journal to write in, and the front of it to communicate with. He also doodles next to his poems and blurbs because I am an Artist Roach truther and no one can tell me that man doesn't draw.

~~~ Bashing my head against the table trying to think of new ideas to write about. Please don't tell me I'm going into the early stages of writers block PLEASE.

My forgetful ass needs someone like Gaz, Rudy or Roach to remind me of quite literally anything.

Rudy would be great at remembering, he uses an app but thats only for things months in advance. He IS the calender, he remember to do everything he needs to without needing a reminder.

Gaz would use an app for things throughout the week but usually his schedule is pretty fixed so he doesn't really need to write it down, anything that he needs to do would just linger in his brain until he does it. (It would take a while for him to realize that you might need more reminders about things than he does)