COD Oneshots

Missed Valentines (Price)

Captain Price stormed down the dimly lit corridors of the Taskforce 141 base, his boots echoing with every step. The meeting had been called just minutes ago—no time for preparation, no time to question why it had to be him of all people to attend. He would've sent someone else, someone who wasn't already running late. But higher-ups insisted he show up. The mission was critical; the details, confidential. But nothing in this world could be as important as the promise he'd made to Y/n.

He was supposed to have left an hour ago to pick her up. Valentine's Day, a night she had been looking forward to.

"Damn it," Price muttered under his breath. He'd already called her once, moved the date back, but now it seemed like he wouldn't make it at all. She would be waiting. And her disappointment—he could already picture it, could already feel it settling into the pit of his stomach.

Before turning off his phone and entering the debriefing room, he quickly fired off a text: "I'm sorry, love. Something came up. I'll make it up to you, I promise." It was the least he could do, and he could only hope it would suffice.

The hours dragged on in that meeting. Tactics, strategy, updates on various missions—his mind barely registered the details. He just kept thinking about Y/n, about how he'd let her down. The minutes dragged into hours, and before he knew it, the meeting ended. He glanced at his watch. The restaurant they had planned to go to had long since closed. His stomach twisted. He couldn't even imagine how she would feel, especially when she'd gotten all dressed up, expecting a night to remember.

Price wasted no time rushing out of the building, adrenaline spiking as he hurried toward his car. Maybe, just maybe, he'd make it up to her at home. He still had the gift, the necklace he had carefully chosen weeks ago—a token of how much she meant to him. He had hoped to present it to her over candlelight, perhaps whisper a few sweet words. Now, though, it all felt like a dream slipping away from his grasp.

The drive home was a blur, the headlights cutting through the darkened streets. When he pulled into the driveway, the house was silent, the lights off. His heart sank. She had gone to bed without him.

With the clock ticking closer to midnight, he didn't hesitate. He hurried inside, slipping off his boots as quietly as possible. His pulse raced with a sense of urgency. He pushed open the bedroom door, and there she was—curled up, a peaceful expression on her face. His breath caught in his throat. God, she looked perfect, even with her eyes closed.

But he couldn't let it end like this. He needed to see her, needed to make this night right.

"Y/n," he whispered gently, his hand brushing the side of her face.

She stirred, eyes fluttering open slowly. When her gaze met his, confusion clouded her features for a brief moment, followed by a soft sigh. "John?" she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

He knelt beside the bed, his hand reaching into his pocket to pull out the small box with the necklace. He held it up to her in the soft moonlight, the silver chain glinting as he spoke. "Happy Valentine's Day, love. I'm sorry I couldn't make it tonight. I'll make it up to you, I swear."

Her eyes softened as she sat up, rubbing her eyes, still processing the moment. "You didn't have to do this," she said quietly, her tone filled with understanding.

"I wanted to," he replied, his voice hoarse. "I just... got caught up in something, and I hate that I kept you waiting."

Y/n smiled, her hand reaching for the necklace as she gently took it from him. "It's okay, John. I know you'd never intentionally break a promise to me." Her fingers traced the delicate chain, the weight of her words settling between them like an unspoken understanding.

Price's chest tightened as she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, pulling back with a smile. "I'll forgive you. But next time, I expect a proper date, yeah?"

"Next time," he said, his voice full of resolve, "I'll make sure nothing stands in the way."

With a shared laugh and a lingering look, the warmth of the moment slowly crept in, filling the space between them. Even if Valentine's Day hadn't gone as planned, they both knew that sometimes love wasn't about grand gestures—it was about the quiet moments, the apologies, and the promises that never really needed words.

And with that, Price knew he'd spend every moment making it up to her.