COD Oneshots

Courage (Roach)

It was a rare occasion indeed when the entire team had a night off together. John, their captain, seized the opportunity and invited everyone over to his house for a relaxed evening. His wife, Sarah, took charge of the kitchen, preparing a feast that made everyone's mouths water. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as the team, usually bound by duty and discipline, now found themselves off-duty and ready to unwind.

Among them was Gary, known to his comrades by the nickname Roach, a nickname he had earned for his quick reflexes and agility in the field. Roach had been nursing a secret crush on Y/N, John's neighbor, for quite some time. She lived just a stone's throw away from John's house, and Roach couldn't help but hope she might show up, or at the very least, that he might catch a glimpse of her.

As the soldiers gathered in John's living room, exchanging stories and jokes, Roach found himself subtly glancing towards Y/N's house. He tried to play it cool, engaging in the banter and laughter with his team, but his eyes often wandered, hoping to catch sight of her.

"Hey, Roach, you seem distracted," one of his teammates remarked with a grin.

Roach chuckled nervously. "Just keeping an eye on the perimeter, you know."

His teammates laughed, teasing him good-naturedly. They knew Roach had a soft spot for Y/N, and they were all secretly rooting for him. They had seen how he lit up whenever her name came up in conversation.

Meanwhile, across the street, Y/N had noticed the gathering at John's house. She had met Roach a few times before when he had dropped by to borrow tools or just to say hello. She found him charming and couldn't help but smile when she saw him among the group of soldiers.

"Are you going to go over and say hi?" her roommate asked, nudging her playfully.

Y/N hesitated, feeling a flush of nerves. "I don't know..."

Her roommate rolled her eyes. "Come on, Y/N. You've got nothing to lose. Just go and talk to him."

Taking a deep breath, Y/N decided to take her roommate's advice. She grabbed a plate of cookies she had baked earlier and made her way across the street. As she approached John's house, her heart raced with anticipation.

Inside, Roach was in the middle of recounting a particularly funny mission mishap when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning slightly, he saw Y/N standing at the doorway, a shy smile on her face, holding out the plate of cookies.

"Hey, everyone," Y/N said softly. "I thought I'd bring these over."

John greeted her warmly, introducing her to those she hadn't met before. Roach felt his heart skip a beat as she approached him. He took a cookie from the plate, his fingers brushing lightly against hers.

"Thanks," he managed to say, trying to keep his voice steady.

Y/N smiled, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "You're welcome."

For the rest of the evening, Roach found himself stealing glances at Y/N whenever he could. They chatted easily, discussing everything from their favorite missions to more personal interests. Roach couldn't believe his luck—Y/N was even more amazing up close than he had imagined.

As the night wound down and the team began to disperse, Roach couldn't shake the feeling of nervous excitement that had been building all evening. He found himself walking Y/N back to her house, feeling both exhilarated and apprehensive about what he wanted to say.

"It's late, and it can be a bit sketchy crossing the street at this hour," Roach said, trying to keep his tone casual as they reached Y/N's front door.

Y/N nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah, it can get quiet around here."

They stood in front of her house, the soft glow of the porch light casting a warm halo around them. Roach took a deep breath, gathering all his courage. This was his chance, and he didn't want to let it slip away.

"Y/N," he began, his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in his chest, "I've really enjoyed tonight. And I was wondering if... if you'd like to go out for coffee with me sometime? Or dinner, if you prefer. Just... something, together?"

Y/N's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "I'd love to, Roach."

Relief flooded through Roach, and a grin spread across his face. "Really? That's... great! How about this weekend? I can take you to that new cafe downtown."

Y/N nodded eagerly. "That sounds perfect."

They exchanged numbers, making plans for their upcoming date. Roach felt like he was walking on air as he bid Y/N goodnight and headed back towards John's house. His teammates had mostly dispersed by now, but those who remained gave him knowing looks and congratulatory nods.

As he walked through the quiet streets, Roach couldn't stop smiling. The night had turned out even better than he had dared to hope. It wasn't just about getting to know Y/N better—it was about taking a chance, stepping outside his comfort zone, and finding something wonderful in the most unexpected of places.

And as Roach finally reached his own doorstep, he couldn't wait for the weekend to arrive, eager for the opportunity to spend more time with Y/N and see where their newfound connection would lead.