COD Oneshots

Protect (GAZ)

Gaz was a soldier, through and through. A soldier doesn't let thoughts distract him, doesn't let emotions interfere. Yet every time he saw Y/N around the barracks, his mind rebelled against his training. Her laughter was a melody that haunted him during the silence of night, her smile a beacon that cut through the fog of war.

It didn't help that she was dating Jackson. A fact that twisted like a knife in his gut. Jackson, with his arrogant smirk and loud boasts, seemed entirely unworthy of Y/N. To Gaz, Y/N was an angel among men, a radiant being who made even the bleakest day brighter. He tried to convince himself to let it go, to focus on his duties, but Y/N was a persistent distraction.

He often noticed the fleeting look of sadness on her face as she exited Jackson's room. She tried to mask it with a forced smile, but Gaz could see the cracks. She deserved more than Jackson's dismissive attitude and his wandering eyes. It was common knowledge around the base that Jackson was unfaithful. Everyone knew, yet no one intervened. They all adored Y/N, but the unspoken rule of soldiering was to mind your own business.

One night, unable to sleep, Gaz wandered outside the barracks. The moon cast a cold, silver light over the compound. He spotted a solitary figure near the edge of the training grounds. Even in the dim light, he recognized her immediately. Y/N stood there, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, her face buried in her hands.

Gaz felt his heart clench painfully. He approached her quietly, the soft crunch of gravel under his boots the only sound. When she looked up, her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She didn't flinch or step back. Instead, she collapsed into his arms, her body wracked with shivers.

"He hit me," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I confronted him about cheating, and he hit me."

Rage surged through Gaz, hot and uncontrollable. He had always harbored a deep resentment for Jackson, but now it flared into a burning hatred. The urge to find Jackson and teach him a lesson he'd never forget was nearly overpowering. But Gaz knew this wasn't the time for vengeance. Y/N needed comfort, not more violence.

He tightened his arms around her, offering her the strength she needed. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice soft yet firm. "You don't deserve this. No one should ever hurt you."

She clung to him, her sobs slowly subsiding into quiet sniffles. For a long while, they stood there, wrapped in the fragile cocoon of the night. Gaz's anger simmered beneath the surface, but he kept it in check for Y/N's sake. She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Why do you care so much?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Gaz hesitated, searching for the right words. "Because you're worth caring for," he said finally. "You're strong, and kind, and you deserve to be treated with respect."

Y/N looked at him for a long moment, as if seeing him for the first time. She nodded, a small, grateful smile touching her lips. "Thank you, Gaz. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He wanted to say that he'd always be there for her, that he'd protect her from anything and anyone. But he knew better than to make promises he might not be able to keep. Instead, he offered her a reassuring smile.

"Come on," he said gently, leading her back towards the barracks. "Let's get you somewhere safe."

As they walked back, Gaz couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Y/N would realize that she deserved better than Jackson. And maybe, someday, she'd see that Gaz had always been there for her, ready to stand by her side.

For now, though, he was content to simply be there for her, a silent guardian in the shadows of duty.

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