COD Oneshots

Harmless Flirting (Gaz)

The sun had barely begun to set over the base, casting long shadows across the courtyard where soldiers milled about, finishing their training for the day. Kyle "Gaz" Garrick stood near the armory, wiping down his rifle, his focus split between the task and keeping an eye out for Y/N, who had just finished leading her squad through some drills. She always looked so effortlessly competent—commanding respect without even trying.

As Gaz worked, a new recruit wandered over, his eyes darting around nervously. Gaz barely glanced up at him, not bothering to break his rhythm. But the kid's voice cut through the noise of the base.

"Hey, Gaz, right?" the recruit asked.

Gaz didn't bother replying. His reputation spoke for itself, and the recruit's obvious nerves told him he already knew the answer.

The recruit cleared his throat awkwardly. "So, uh, you and Y/N... are you two, like... dating?"

That question made Gaz pause for just a second, his hands freezing mid-motion. He felt a heat rise in his chest, but he kept his expression neutral. His silence should've been enough of an answer, but the recruit—oblivious to the thin ice he was stepping on—pushed on.

"No? Cool. Uh... would you mind if I, uh, asked her out?"

The words hit Gaz harder than he expected, like a gut punch he wasn't ready for. He set his rifle down carefully on the bench beside him, standing up to his full height. His gaze locked onto the recruit, cold and deadly serious now.

The recruit instantly looked like he regretted his life choices.

Gaz leaned forward, his voice low and laced with a threat that sent chills down the rookie's spine. "You go anywhere near her, I'll bury you ten feet under before you even think of breathing in her direction again. Clear?"

The recruit's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Without another word, he nodded rapidly and made a hasty retreat, practically tripping over his own feet in his rush to get away.

It wasn't that he and Y/N were officially together. Hell, they hadn't even really talked about what they were. But something about the idea of anyone else asking her out made his blood boil. It was in that moment, watching the recruit scurry away, that Gaz realized he wanted more. More than the harmless flirting, more than the shared laughs and stolen glances. He wanted her. Fully.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath, rubbing a hand across his face. He wasn't exactly the romantic type, but now he had to figure out how to make his move without looking like a complete fool.

Later that evening, he found Y/N in the rec room, casually lounging on the couch with a book in her hands. Her hair was slightly tousled, her expression relaxed, and yet, she looked more beautiful to him than ever. He hesitated for a moment, suddenly unsure of how to approach this. He had faced enemies in the field, stared down the barrel of a gun more times than he could count, and yet the thought of asking her out made his heart race.

He tried to sound casual as he approached. "Busy?" he asked, standing by the arm of the couch.

Y/N looked up from her book, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Not too busy for you, Gaz. What's up?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. "Was just thinking... We've been spending a lot of time together, haven't we?"

She raised an eyebrow, setting the book aside. "Yeah, I guess we have. Why?"

"Well," he began, struggling to find the right words, "what if we, I dunno, made it official or something? You and me."

Her eyes lit up with surprise, a smile growing on her lips. "Are you asking me out, Garrick?"

"Yeah, I guess I am," he said with a crooked grin, trying to keep his voice nonchalant but failing to hide the sincerity behind his words. "Unless, of course, some other poor bastard already tried?"

Y/N laughed softly, shaking her head. "Nope, no other poor bastards. You sure took your time, though."

Gaz felt a wave of relief wash over him. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and slid onto the couch beside her. "Just had to make sure no recruits needed burying before I made my move."

She chuckled, nudging him with her shoulder. "Took you long enough."

"Well, I'm here now," he said, his voice softer, his hand reaching for hers. "What do you say?"

Y/N didn't answer with words, instead leaning in and pressing her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. When she pulled back, she smiled, her eyes full of affection. "I'd say that's a yes."

Gaz grinned, a warmth spreading through him. 

As they sat side by side, Gaz felt a surge of confidence. This was right. He wanted her, and more importantly, he knew she wanted him too. And tonight, he was going to make sure there was no question about where they stood.

Flirting was one thing. But he was ready to take it to the next level.