The rhythmic thrum of helicopter blades filled the air as the extraction team descended over the forest. The setting sun bathed the landscape in a fading orange glow, casting long shadows over the dense treetops. Y/N could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the adrenaline of the mission still coursing through her veins as she reached for her gear.
"Stay sharp, we're not out of this yet," a familiar, gruff voice crackled over her earpiece.
Captain John "Soap" MacTavish had been her squad leader for nearly a year now, but this mission had felt different from the start. Maybe it was because it had gone sideways so quickly—ambushed deep in enemy territory, outnumbered, with limited extraction options. Or maybe it was because every time she found herself in danger, Soap was there, guiding her, protecting her, in a way that went beyond the duties of a team leader.
As the helicopter touched down on a small clearing, Y/N glanced over at him, his piercing blue eyes steady and determined beneath the brim of his helmet. She could see a flicker of concern there, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the mission… or because of her.
She climbed aboard, Soap following close behind. The helicopter lifted off the ground, and as the two of them secured their gear, Y/N finally allowed herself a deep breath. The rest of the squad exchanged a few words about the mission, but her attention remained on Soap, who was watching her in that quiet, intense way of his.
"Good work back there, lass," he said, his voice low as he stepped closer. "Couldn’t have done it without you."
She gave a small smile, her pulse still racing. "You’re the one who saved my ass more than once today."
"Aye, well, someone’s gotta keep you out of trouble." There was a hint of a grin in his voice, but his gaze was serious. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. The gesture was so uncharacteristically gentle for the hardened soldier that it took her by surprise.
There was a moment of silence between them, filled only by the steady beat of the helicopter’s blades. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in that small space, suspended in the air and in time. Soap’s hand lingered near her cheek, and she found herself leaning into his touch before she could stop herself.
"I thought I lost you back there," he confessed, his voice barely audible. "When you went down… I’ve never seen you so still."
Her throat tightened at his words. She had been caught in an explosion that had knocked her off her feet, and for a few agonizing seconds, she hadn’t been able to move. It had been Soap’s voice that brought her back, that gave her the strength to push herself up and keep fighting. She hadn’t realized it had affected him this much.
"You didn’t," she whispered, her hand finding his, squeezing gently. "I’m still here."
His eyes softened as he looked at her, and for a brief, unguarded moment, the tough exterior he always maintained seemed to melt away. It was like seeing a side of him that he rarely let anyone see—vulnerable, real. He leaned in closer, their foreheads nearly touching.
"Good," he murmured. "Because I don’t know what I’d do without you, Y/N."
She felt a rush of warmth as her heart seemed to skip a beat. The intensity in his eyes left no room for doubt; this was more than just the bond between soldiers. This was something deeper, something that had grown between them during every firefight, every long night on watch, every unspoken moment where they understood each other perfectly without a single word.
Y/N closed the small distance between them, her lips brushing against his. The kiss was tentative at first, as if testing the waters, but it quickly deepened, all the tension and emotion from the past year coming to the surface in a way that neither of them could deny any longer.
When they finally pulled apart, Soap’s hand cupped her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her skin. "We’ll have to keep this quiet," he said with a small smirk, the familiar glint of humor returning to his eyes.
"Quiet’s never been our strong suit, Captain," Y/N replied, her smile widening.
He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before drawing her close. "No, I suppose it hasn’t."
As the helicopter flew on, the two of them sat together, side by side, knowing that whatever the battlefield threw their way, they would face it not just as soldiers, but as something more. And that made all the difference.
