Russell Adler x Reader

Twenty-Five

"Fucking hell!", you gasped as another strange creature crawled over your arm.

Disgusted, you tried to shake it off while Adler was sitting next to you on a bench, staring into the distance.

The two of you had had guard duty that night, which meant twenty-four hours of being awake and a high risk of getting shot in the head by some Vietnamese soldiers from the distance.

As you wouldn't stop shaking, he grabbed your arm, annoyed, and picked the bug to throw it away like a baseball.

"They are more afraid of you than you are afraid of them.", he said and chugged some of his soda.

You noticed that he had a favourite brand and flavour, cherry cola, specifically.

It was the nastiest of all flavours, in your opinion, but it seemed like he needed the extra sugar and sweetness to keep himself up since coffee was basically liquid gold and impossible to get.

He used a lot of his favours for cigarettes, but the second most for food and drinks like sweets and soda.

Surprisingly, he wasn't miserly about anything he requested. Most of the time he even shared when someone was asking nicely.

The only people who didn't have to ask were Sims and Woods. He just offered them stuff.

And now that you had worked with him for a good few months, he started to treat you the same.

With a silent gesture, he pulled out a pack of candy and offered it to you.

You took a small hand full.

"Where did you get chocolate peanuts?", you asked, brows knitted together.

"The CIA offers favours for good work.", he said and shoved some into his mouth as well. "And I only do good work."

That made you snort.

"I'd say you only do good work because you get the cool jobs.", you argued and fixed your hat.

It was still the same you had stolen from Adler in the beginning.

The months of use and war had roughened the condition heavily. The brim was torn and some threats loosened.

Adler took the hat to take a look at it.

"I'll get you a new one.", he said and put it back on your head.

"Don't waste your favours on me."

He huffed.

"Funny. I told you something similar as you arrived."

"It served a purpose.", you poked his arm which was almost fully healed. "Looks decent."

"Yeah. You seem to be good at caring for me."

You frowned.

"Weird thing to say."

He shrugged.

"Never seen you patch up someone else."

A chuckle made your chest vibrate.

"I patch up Woods. Constantly.", you leaned back, hands folded behind your head and closed your eyes for a moment. "Seriously, how is that guy still alive? He seems to have something, all the time. I once pulled a nail out his hand. Like, I'd get it if he stepped on it, but how did he get one into his hand?"

"He was responsible for putting up new tents.", Adler pulled out his pack of cigarettes and held one out so you would light it for him.

With a smirk, you pulled out your lighter.

"Yours still empty?", you asked.

"No.", he took a deep breath. "I like yours better."

"You can have it."

"Not like that."

"What?"

For the first time that night he turned to look over his shoulder and met your eyes.

His shades were sitting low, low enough for his eyes to be seen.

This cursed blue.

Your fingers twitched.

"I like the lighter because it's yours.", he said with a cocky expression on his face. "Wouldn't be the same if you'd give it to me."

You frowned.

"Okay?", you smiled. "I don't know if that makes sense..."

He shook his head. The thick hair of his moved.

It looked so soft, despite probably not being washed since the beginning of the month.

You wanted to touch it.

Somehow, you had developed this weird thing other the course of time that you felt the need to touch him whenever something was very peculiar about his appearance.

You wanted to let your fingers run through his hair, wanted to know how his chest or arms felt.

Especially his jawline was one if your weaknesses.

Stubbles started to get visible and you wanted to feel them scratch over your skin.

All of a sudden, the halfway smoked cigarette came into sight.

Torn from your thoughts, you blinked.

"I don't smoke.", you said, irritated, because he knew.

Without saying anything, he just smirked and offered it with more persistence.

You took it.

The grey strand of smoke seeping from the tip rose to your nose.

It smelled like ashes.

"You shouldn't start with it, honestly.", Adler said and stretched his legs.

He was tall, but now that he was sitting, he seemed a lot larger.

"Then why are you giving this to me?", you asked and carefully sucked on it.

"Because you look like you need something to calm your nerves. You're off. I don't like you like this."

"We're at war. Am I supposed to just... chill?"

"No. But if you need a moment, just ask me. I'm willing to share with you."

"Sounds like smoking is a wonder pill for everything."

He huffed, arms crossed in front of his chest.

"More or less.", he said and rubbed his chin.

Again, you felt the need to touch him.

Without thinking, you shoved the cigarette into the corner of your mouth to have free hands and reached out.

But you didn't grab his face, how you initially wanted to. Instead, you pushed the low sitting shades up with two fingers.

Struck by surprise and confusion equally, Adler wasn't able to move.

His gaze lingered on you.

You took a deep brag from the cigarette. The smoke made your lungs scratch.

"Sorry...", you mumbled.

He didn't answer.

Instead, his large fingers snatched the cigarette out of your mouth.

You thought he'd be mad, but all of a sudden his hand found your cheek.

Gently, he pulled you in.

You didn't resist as his lips touched yours.

They truly were as soft as they looked like. And he did taste the exact way as expected, a bit rough, like smoke and ashes with the subtle hint of an old whiskey.

This taste would accompany you many years after the war.