Bucky Barnes was not in bed when Y/N woke up. At first they only noticed because the other side of the mattress felt cold when they reached across it half asleep. Usually Bucky slept lightly enough that even moving too much would wake him, so an empty bed at this hour immediately felt wrong.
The apartment was quiet when Y/N walked out of the bedroom. The only sound came from the television still running somewhere in the living room, low enough to barely hear. They followed the flickering light and stopped in the doorway when they saw him asleep on the couch.
Bucky looked uncomfortable as hell. One arm thrown across his stomach, his head tilted awkwardly against the couch cushion like he had only meant to sit there for a few minutes before passing out accidentally. The blanket from their bed was hanging half onto the floor.
Then Y/N noticed the metal arm sitting on the coffee table, placed there carefully beside him.
Their stomach tightened a little at the sight.
“Bucky?” they said quietly.
The reaction was immediate.
Bucky woke up like someone had fired a gun next to his head. His whole body jerked forward hard, breathing sharp before his eyes even focused properly. For one bad second he looked completely ready to fight whoever was standing over him.
Then he recognized Y/N.
Everything in him dropped after that. His shoulders loosened and he dragged a hand down his face roughly before leaning back again.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
Y/N walked over slowly and sat down on the edge of the couch, glancing once more at the arm on the table before looking back at him. “Why are you sleeping out here?”
Bucky stayed quiet for a moment. His eyes stayed fixed somewhere on the floor instead of them.
“I had a nightmare.”
His voice sounded rough from exhaustion more than sleep.
Y/N waited without pushing him and eventually Bucky exhaled through his nose, rubbing his hand against his jaw.
“You moved in your sleep and I grabbed you.” His expression tightened immediately after saying it. “For a second I thought somebody was on me.”
Y/N remembered it then. Barely. The feeling of being pulled awake for half a second in the middle of the night before Bucky suddenly let go and got out of bed. They had been too tired to fully process it at the time.
“You let go,” they said quietly.
“After a moment.” His jaw clenched hard enough Y/N could see it. “I woke up and realized it was you .”
The room went silent again. Bucky leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring down at his remaining hand like he could not stand looking anywhere else.
“I just kept thinking about it after that,” he admitted finally. “What happens if one day I don’t stop fast enough.”
Y/N’s chest hurt hearing that because he sounded genuinely afraid of himself. Not dramatic or angry. Just looking tired and scared in a way that he looked worn down.
Bucky glanced over at the arm sitting beside them on the table.
“So I took it off.”
Like that explained everything.
But Y/N stayed where they were, looking at him quietly instead of reacting with anger like he expected.
“You should be pissed at me for that,” Bucky said quietly. He still was not looking at them. “I grabbed you hard enough to leave marks.”
“Why?” Y/N asked quietly. “You had a nightmare and scared yourself so bad you took your own arm off.” They shook their head slightly. “I’m not angry at you for that.”
Bucky stayed silent.
Y/N moved closer, kneeling in front of him so they were at the same level before speaking again.
“I know who you are, Buck. I wouldn’t still be here if I thought you were gonna hurt me, and I know you wouldn't do that on purpose.”
Y/N slowly lifted a hand to his cheek, making Bucky finally look at them again.
It had been almost sixteen years since she was born. Her mother died right after giving birth—she never even got the chance to meet her. Ashley was adopted right away by her aunt and her wife. From as far back as she could remember, she never liked them. To her, they were always too overprotective—never letting her do the things other kids could.
But she always had that one friend, though—Cassie. They met in primary school when Ashley was seven and Cassie was eight. A year difference didn’t matter; from day one, they just clicked. It wasn’t long into their friendship that Ashley learned Cassie lived with her grandparents. Her parents were always away, somewhere far, but her grandmother was more than enough for the young girl—warm, kind, understanding.
But let’s get back to Ashley.
Her life wasn’t easy. Not even close. She tried more than once to rebel against her “Guardians” as she always called them. Never “moms”, never “aunts” or anything remotely affectionate. Just Alex and Kelly, never anything else.
She tried to learn about her birth mother too, even since she found out she was adopted, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find anything about her. Her guardians refused to talk about it, and as for the internet? There was nothing. It was like her mother never existed. Like someone had wiped her off the face of the Earth.
Alex—her aunt, is the one who adopted her. She works at the DEO, the Department of Extranormal Operations. Ashley had been then several times, mostly for medical checkups. For some reasons Alex didn’t trust any other doctors, not even regular hospitals, so she brought Ashley there herself. But Ashley had taken advantage of her visits, snooping around the systaem whenever she had the chance. But even the government files didn’t hold anything about her mother. Under “parents” it simply said: Unknown.
Yesterday had been another one of those DEO visits. Alex ran some blood tests, same as always. Nothing came out of it. Ashley still didn’t understood why she couldn’t just see a normal doctor like everyone else.
But today wasn’t about that. Today was her birthday, her sixteenth, and she had plans.
Cassie helped her set up everything, a full birthday party at her place. Her parents were gone again, and the house was theirs. No overbearing adults. Just music, friends, and a night that finally belonged to Ashley.
She woke up early and checked to see if Alex and Kelly were still asleep, which they were, before she threw on some comfy clothes on, an oversized black shirt and red shorts. She didn’t even brushed her hair, just ran a hand through it, shot a quick message to Cassie, and rushed out of the door, heart pounding in her chest.
The bus was about to arrive, and she couldn’t afford to miss it. Cassie’s house wasn’t that far, but walking would take about an hour, where the bus took only twenty minutes.
Ashley arrived at the bus stop with two minutes to spare. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The street behind her was empty… but she could’ve sworn someone had just whispered her name. She turned quickly but there was no one. The whole street was still.
The bus rolled in right on time, putting her out of the uneasy silence. She climbed in and took a seat near the window, pulling out her phone
Ashley: In bus :3
Cassie: Can’t wait! Everything’s ready for you! <3
This was the first year Alex hadn’t planned anything ahead for her birthday. Finally, Ashley could celebrate with her friends. She sank into the bus seat, lost in her thoughts. She nearly missed her stop but jumped out just in time. Cassie was already there, waiting with a smile. They both hugged and walked together, chatting the whole way. The house was decorated, the fridge full of party food.
“Are you ready for your sweet sixteen?” Cassie asked as they walked in. Ashley paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“Of course, but I’ll probably gonna take a nap first” She said, rubbing her eyes “Couldn’t sleep that good last night”
“Again? Girl your sleep schedule is messed up” Cassie laughed, slinging an arm around her. “You should just move in with me. I’d take way better care of you” She was joking… mostly. Cassie had always wished Ashley could stay with her, especially during the months her parents were gone. At least then neither of them would be alone.
“You know Alex would never let that happen” Ashley replied. She wasn’t joking, she would really love to move in with Cassie during the time her parents are away, but Alex would probably be checking on her every hour.
“Maybe one day” Cassie said “When we go off to college”
They dropped the topic as they walked inside. Ashley kicked off her shoes and went straight for Cassie’s room, curling up under the blanket on the bed. Cassie in the meantime started prepping, lying out makeup, pulling dresses from the closet, making sure everything was ready for later. She left the room to let her get some sleep. By the time the clock hit 11 A.M. Cassie decided to finally wake her up.
“You’re still sleeping, huh?” She said softly. Ashley yawned and rubbed her eyes but nodded. Cassie helped her sit by the vanity mirror and started working on her makeup.
“Okay now try not to fall asleep on me” Cassie joked.
“I’ll try” Ashley mumbled her response, trying to stay still.
Cassie took her time. She wanted everything to be perfect. By the end of it, Ashley’s face looked ethereal—soft tones, gentle shimmer. She brushed through her friend’s hair, debating whether to style it differently, but decided to leave it natural.
Then came the dress. Cassie pulled out two options from her wardrobe and held them up. “Which one do you prefer?” Ashley just shrugged, the usual “you pick”
She handed over a long, one-shoulder dark blue dress. Lighter blue floral designs curled up from the hem toward the shoulder—simple but elegant. Ashley took off her clothes and slipped into the dress. Cassie helped with the zipper and turned her toward the mirror.
Ashley stared at her reflection for a long moment… and smiled. Just a little. But it was real.
“I’m gonna go unlock the doors and check on the setup downstairs” Cassie said with a grin. “Be right back.”
Ashley nodded, still staring at herself. Cassie had outdone herself.
But then… “Ashley!” She jumped at the sound of Cassie’s voice from downstairs.
“Coming!” she called back, glancing at the mirror one last time. Only… something was off, there was someone in the mirror, standing behind her. She spun around, heart racing… but no one was there. The room was empty. She didn’t even look back at the mirror again. She just left, quickly walking downstairs, past the strange cold feeling crawling up her spine.
People had already arrived. Friends with small gifts—nothing fancy, just thoughtful things. The music was playing, the mood was light. Ashley sat on the couch, smiling when someone talked to her, but not really present. Her mind kept flashing back to the mirror. The voice. The silence. Was she going crazy? Should she talk to Kelly? Probably not. She’d tell Alex. And that was the last thing Ashley wanted.
“Girl, what is up with you?” Cassie asked, finally noticing the way her friend zoned out. Ashley looked up. Everyone was watching her, concern in their eyes.
“I’m just… tired” she said weakly, forcing a smile. Cassie tilted her head and gave her a look.
“Come with me. Let’s talk,” she said gently. Ashley stood, but halfway to the other room, she froze. Her legs gave out—and she collapsed.
“Ashley!” Cassie screamed, dropping to the floor, cradling her head. Her friend was unconscious. Her breathing was shallow. Panic surged through her.
“Someone get my phone! Call Alex—she’s in my contacts!” she ordered, trying to stay calm. A girl grabbed the phone and quickly called. It rang once. Twice, then a voice picked up.
Silence. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Just keep checking her breathing” The call ended. No questions, no location needed. Of course, Alex knew where she was. Cassie clutched her friend closer, brushing hair from her face.
“Hold on, Ash” she whispered. “Please”
Alex arrived barely ten minutes later, stepping into the house with the kind of quiet authority that made everyone instinctively move aside. The front door had been left open for her, and without saying a word, she dropped to her knees beside Ashley, checking her pulse with practiced fingers and shining a small flashlight into her eyes.
“She’s coming with me,” Alex said sharply, already moving.
Before anyone could protest, she had gathered Ashley into her arms with surprising ease and was already out the door, focused and fast. Cassie and the others stood frozen for a moment, the weight of what had just happened settling in the air.
Back at the DEO, Ashley was placed on a medical bed, surrounded by machines and sterile white lights. Alex wasted no time, she drew blood, scanned vitals, and ran every advanced diagnostic available to her. None of this was normal, and Alex knew it. Something was wrong — deeply wrong, and she wasn’t going to wait for answers to come to her.
No irregularities. No foreign substances. No spikes in neural activity or indicators of illness. Every result blinked green, and yet none of it explained why Ashley had collapsed without warning. Alex sat in the medical bay, eyes glued to the monitors, jaw tense. She hadn’t moved from her spot for hours.
Then finally, Ashley stirred. Her eyes fluttered opening slowly, unfocused and blinking against the too-bright light above her. “Hey” Alex said softly, leaning over her. “You’re awake”
Ashley looked confused at first. She clearly didn’t understand how she ended up in here. “You fainted” Alex said, keeping her voice calm even though her eyes were sharp, scanning every micro-expression. “Cassie called me. You weren’t responding.”
Ashley didn’t said anything to that. She glanced at the machines again, then back at her niece. “We ran every test. Blood work, vitals, scans. You’re… perfectly healthy, according to all of it” She spoke as she walked closer “But I am still worried about you, because nothing shows why you lost consciousness”
After a quiet moment, Alex reached into her pocket and pulled out Ashley’s phone. She handed it over gently. “Cassie’s probably still anxious, waiting for any kind of update” she said, offering a small, careful smile.
Ashley took the phone without looking at her, her fingers moving instinctively as she turned on the screen.
“How long have I been unconscious?” Ashley just asked as she grabbed the phone and turned on the screen.
“Few hours” Alex responded, as she watched her niece with worried expression.
They got back home about an hour later, Alex wanted to make another checkup before she would bring her back home.
Ashley didn’t say a word the whole ride.
Kelly was already waiting when they walked in. She looked worried, clearly had been for a while, but Ashley didn’t stop to say anything. She just walked right past her, straight to her room, and closed the door behind her without a word.
She sat on the edge of her bed, not even bothering to change. Her phone was still in her hand, but she didn’t feel like messaging anyone right now. The makeup Cassie worked so hard on was, smudged and she just stared at the floor, blankly.
Character: GN!Reader x Captain John Price
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 387
Prompt: Christmas eve, opening your present early
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
Price had been home all day, and you could tell it still had not sunk in for him.
He kept finding small things to do that did not actually need doing. Straightening the bookshelf. Adjusting the lights. Checking his phone even though it had been silent for hours.
“You know you can sit down” you said from the couch.
He glanced over. “I am sitting”
“You’ve stood up three times in the last ten minutes”
He sighed and finally joined you, leaning back with a tired smile. “Old habits"
This was the first Christmas he had actually been home, properly home, and neither of you really knew what to do with that. Normally, you worked around schedules and time zones. This year, there was nothing to work around.
You nudged the small stack of presents with your foot. “We could open them.”
Price raised an eyebrow. “Now?”
“We always do” you said. “At least, we always have”
He thought about it for a second, then nodded. “Alright, early it is”
You handed him his first. He opened it carefully, slower than you expected, like he was taking his time on purpose. When he saw what it was, his expression softened.
“You didn’t have to” he said.
“I wanted to”
He gave a quiet hum and set it aside before passing you yours. You tore into it and laughed when you saw what he had picked.
“You remembered” you said.
“Of course I did” he replied. “You’ve mentioned it enough times”
After that, the rest went easily. Wrapping paper piled up on the floor, and the tea went cold in the meantime.
At some point, Price shifted closer and rested his arm along the back of the couch. “This is different” he said.
“Probably because I didn’t had to send your present early to you” You responded to him, as he chuckled lightly.
“Maybe, but this” He pointed at the room around you two. “This is home, and I’m glad I am able to spend this christmass here with you” Then he looked directly at you putting his hand under your chin. “First time in person for a long time” He said before he put a small kiss on you lips.
You stayed there a while longer, presents already open, Christmas evening no longer something to wait for.
Character: GN!Reader and TF141
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 407
Prompt: Secret santa
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
None of you had anywhere to go for Christmas, so you stayed on base.
The Secret Santa idea had come up at the beginning of December, mostly because everyone was bored and stuck together anyway. Names were drawn, rules were set, and after that, no one mentioned it again. Still, over the weeks, wrapped gifts started appearing in the common room, stacked in a messy pile on one of the tables.
Now it was the night before Christmas, and all five of you were finally there to open them.
You were spread out across the couches and chairs, drinks in hand, boots kicked off. Someone had put up some cheap string lights, and there was a small fake tree in the corner that clearly had not been assembled with much effort. It was quiet in a comfortable way.
“Alright” Soap said, clapping his hands once. “Let’s do this before someone starts trying to figure out who got who”
“No guessing” Gaz said. “That was the deal”
Price sat back and watched all of you with a small smile. “Go on then”
Soap grabbed the first gift and opened it immediately. Inside was a multitool, solid and clearly well made. He smiled as he turned it over in his hands. “This is a good one” he said. “Whoever picked this knows me”
No one reacted, but they all looked at each other.
Gaz picked next. He unwrapped his and found a beanie and a short note that said for cold nights. He smiled to himself and pulled it on. “Yeah” he said. “This one is nice”
Ghost’s gift was smaller. He opened it and paused when he saw what it was. A sketchbook, brand new. He flipped one page, then closed it carefully. “Thanks” he said quietly.
Then it was your turn.
You picked yours and opened it to find a hoodie in your size. You smiled and nodded. “I like this” you said. “This is getting worn out really quick” As you grabbed on the hoodie you wore now.
Price was last.
He unwrapped his slowly and pulled out a pack of ciggars. He smiled lightly as he loooked at them. “You know what I like”
No one said a word, about who bought what. But that was the fun, wasn’t it? To gave a surprise gift, where you don’t know who bought it for you.
And this christmas the base felt more than a work, or home.
Character: GN!Reader x Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and their daughter
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 479
Prompt: Handmade gift
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
Kyle really had not planned on turning the afternoon into an arts and crafts event, but once your daughter decided she wanted to make you a gift, there was absolutely no stopping her.
She was sitting at the table with her little legs swinging, crayons scattered everywhere, fully locked in. Kyle was beside her, acting as her very serious assistant, even though his main job seemed to be handing her supplies and trying to keep glue off her sleeves.
“Gonna make Ba a present!” she exclaimed.
Kyle smiled. “Yeah? That’s nice of you.”
“It’s for Ba!” she repeated, like that was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Course it is” he said, lowering his voice like they were sharing a secret. “They’re gonna love it”
The paper in front of her was a mess in the best way. Bright colors everywhere, stickers stuck on sideways, all over the place. Kyle didn’t stop her. He just watched, smiling, occasionally stepping in to keep things from turning into a full disaster.
“No peeking” she warned when she heard you moving around nearby.
“I’m not looking” you called back, already laughing.
When she finally decided it was done, your daughter hopped down from her chair and ran over to you, holding the paper out with both hands like it was the most important thing she’d ever made.
“This is for you” she said proudly.
You crouched down to her level and took it carefully. “Wow” you said, genuinely. “You made this?”
She nodded hard. “By myself!”
“I love it” you told her without hesitation. “This is going straight on the fridge”
That earned you a big grin and an excited little bounce before she ran off again, clearly satisfied with her work.
Kyle cleared his throat behind you. “Uh, I’ve got something for you too”
He handed you a wooden picture frame. You could tell right away he’d made it himself. It wasn’t perfect, but it was solid, smooth around the edges, and clearly done with a lot of care. Inside was your wedding photo.
You stared at it for a second, then looked up at him. “You made this?”
“Yeah” he said, suddenly rubbing the back of his neck. “Thought we needed a proper frame instead of the cheap one it came in”
You ran your fingers over the wood, then looked back at the photo. “Kyle… this is really sweet”
He shrugged, but he was smiling. “Didn’t want to just buy something, wanted it to actually mean something.”
You leaned into him, resting your head against his shoulder for a moment. “It does, it really does”
From across the room, your daughter pointed dramatically at both of you. “My present better” she declared.
Kyle laughed. “Oi, that’s debatable.”
You laughed too, pulling her into your arms. “Hey, both of your gifts are perfect”
Character: GN!Reader and Captain John Price
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 542
Prompt: Scarf
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
The base had gone quiet in the way it always did on holidays, when most of the lights were still on but the people were gone. You sat on the concrete steps just outside the main building, your elbows resting on your knees, your hands tucked uselessly into your sleeves. The cold started to seep deeper but you tried to ignore it.
Earlier, you had watched your team leave one by one. Soap had waved awkwardly before heading off, promising he would bring leftovers back. Ghost had given you a brief nod, the kind that said more than words ever did, before disappearing toward his truck. Gaz had smiled apologetically, already halfway distracted by a phone call from home. They all had places to be, people waiting for them, warmth that had nothing to do with heaters or walls.
But you stayed.
The soap bubbles you had been lazily blowing drifted and popped in the air, dissolving almost as soon as they formed. It was a pointless thing to do, but it kept your hands busy and your thoughts quiet. Christmas lights hung along the edge of the building, glowing softly, festive in a way that felt almost ironic.
You did not hear Price approach at first. His footsteps were familiar, but you had grown used to the base sounds blending together. Before you noticed him, you felt something warm settle around your neck.
You froze.
The scarf was thick and worn, clearly not new. It smelled faintly of some sort of perfume only one person used. Price leaned forward just enough to adjust it properly, his hands careful, almost hesitant, as he tucked the ends in so they would not drag against the steps.
“There” he said quietly. “That’s better”
You swallowed. “Sir, you–“
“You look cold” he replied, interrupting gently. You reached up, fingers brushing the fabric as if to confirm it was real. It was warmer than you expected, the kind of warmth that lingered instead of fading immediately into the air.
You let out a small breath. “You could have gone home too, you know”
He gave a short, almost amused exhale. “This is home, for better or worse, always has been”
There was a pause. The base behind you, was quiet while the night stretched out ahead, vast and empty.
“You do not like being alone on days like this” Price said, not as a question.
You hesitated, then shook your head. “I am used to it, does not mean I enjoy it”
He nodded, as if you had confirmed something he already knew. “Fair enough”
You glanced back at him. “Is this your scarf?”
“It is” he answered without hesitation.
“You are going to get cold” You wanted to give him back the scarf but he stopped you.
“I will survive” he said. Then, after a brief pause “Besides, I would rather you have it”
Your chest tightened at that, an emotion rising that you were not prepared to name.
“Thank you” you said softly.
He did not respond right away. Instead, he moved to sit beside you on the steps, close enough that your shoulders nearly touched.
“Don’t stay out to long, okay?” Price said at last. “There will be hot tea waiting inside”
Character: GN!Reader, Captain John Price and rest of TF141
Tone: Hurt/Comfort
Word count: 624
Prompt: Time of forgiveness
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
You stopped talking to Price after the day he gave the order.
His voice had been calm and firm over the comms, the same tone he always used when he had already made up his mind.
“Fall back, now”
You remember pushing back, telling him you could make it, that you had the angle and the timing right. You remember starting to argue, and then his voice cutting in again, sharper.
“That’s not a suggestion, sergeant, move”
So you did moved, because you always listened to him.
You turned and took a few steps before the blast hit the spot you had been standing in just seconds earlier. The force of it threw you hard into the ground and sent everything spinning. You survived, but your body never fully recovered from it.
After that, Price pulled you from active field duty and kept you on base. You were still useful, still part of the team, just no longer in the field where things could go wrong again.
You never spoke to Price after that.
It takes a few weeks before Soap finally says something. He catches up with you outside medical, walking beside you like he is afraid you might bolt.
“You’re still angry at him” he says
You keep your eyes forward. “I’m still dealing with what he left me with”
“He knows” Soap answers, quieter
You stop walking and look at him. “Does he?”
Gaz joins you both, his expression serious. “He wasn’t sure why he gave that order”
That gets your attention.
Ghost join last, leaning against the wall like he has been there the whole time. “He had a bad feeling, he always does when something is about to happen”
Gaz nods “Something felt wrong to him, but his instinct saved your life”
“You would’ve died” Soap adds softly
You shake your head, frustration bubbling up. “So he guessed, huh?”
“That blast” Gaz started carefully “From where he was standing, he saw it hit right where you were positioned”
Ghost meets your eyes. “If he didn’t ordered you back, if you stayed there…” he paused “You wouldn’t have survived it”
It took you some time after what other told you before you actually showed up in front of his office. After looking few minutes at the door, you finally decided to knock. Your hands were shaking more than expected.
“Come in” You walked right in, and Price looked up at you like you weren’t real. The shock on his face was clearly visible.
“I didn’t think you would visit me at all” he admits
“I didn’t come to forgive you” you say honestly
He nods. “I wouldn’t expect you to”
“They told me you didn’t know” you continue. “That you just felt something was wrong”
“I didn’t had proof why” He said.
“But you still made the call”
“yes”
The silence stretched between them for a moment.
“I don’t regret giving that order” Price said “Because if I hadn’t, the blast would’ve hit you right there, and there would be no one to bring home”
“You still took me off field”
“But you’re not dead” He replied “and that’s matters more to me than anything else”
“and you were okay with me hating you for it?”
“Yes” He answered without hesitation
You exhaled slowly “I’m not ready to forgive you” You admited “Not yet”
“I don’t need forgiveness” Price says. “I just needed you breathing”
You nod slowly.
“I can stop avoiding you” You tell him “at least”
His shoulders relax just a bit. “That’s more than I hoped for”
You turn toward the door, then stop.
“You made the right call” you say quietly before you left his office. He didn’t responded, but you know he heard every word.
Character: GN!Reader and Simon "Ghost" Riley
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 325
Prompt: Snowstorm
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
It’s been hours since you both managed to find a place hide. This empty building was the best you found. Ghost already swept the place to make sure it was empty and safe before coming back to you.
“Building’s safe” he said, looking around for a place to warm up. The snowstorm outside slammed against the broken windows, rattling the walls. It was cold inside, but way warmer than out there.
“You sure it was a good idea to hide instead of going further? I’m sure if we—” You started, but he stopped you.
“If we kept trying to get to the safehouse we’d end up frozen to death” He didn’t look at you as he spoke, instead hunting around for some dry wood. He found a few frozen, but not wet, pieces and set up a small fire. “Trust me, this kind of storm isn’t something you survive easily”
It took a few minutes, but soon there was a small, steady flame. The warmth hit your skin and made you shiver less. You sank to the floor near the fire, watching him settle across from you.
“You always plan for this stuff, huh?” you asked, trying to keep your voice light.
“Not always” he said, finally looking at you. “But when I do, I make sure it actually works” He smirked slightly.
You stretched your legs out, letting the heat seep in. “I could get used to this” you admitted.
“Yeah?” He tilted his head, resting his elbow on his knee. “Don’t get too comfortable, with the snowstorm like this we need to be careful”
You laughed softly, and he chuckled too, it was comforting. For the first time in hours, the storm outside felt like it couldn’t touch you.
“Good thing we found this place” you murmured.
“Yeah” he agreed. You both sat there quiet for a moment letting the whistling of the wind and the warmth of the fire settle in.
Character: GN!Reader and Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and their daughter
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 277
Prompt: Silent night
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlis
It feels weird when it finally happens.
Your daughter actually falls asleep when you need her to. No getting up again, no asking for water, no crying right as you are about to leave the room. She is curled on her side, one arm wrapped around her plushie.
You stand there for a few extra seconds, just watching her chest rise and fall making sure she is really asleep.
Kyle is right behind you in the doorway. When you glance back at him, he lifts his eyebrows.
“She’s out”
You nod slowly. “Yeah”
He exhales like he has been holding his breath the whole time. You ease the door closed, careful not to make a sound.
The hallway feels almost too quiet after that. Both of you stop walking, like you are waiting for something to break the silence.
“This feels illegal” Kyle whispers “like we’re about to get caught”
You smile. “Don’t say that”
He grins and follows you down the hall anyway. You both move slower than usual, keeping your voices low to make sure you won't wake up the little one.
When you finally sit down together, you do not turn on the TV. You do not grab your phones. You just sit there, shoulder to shoulder, letting the quiet settle in.
Kyle reaches for your hand, squeezing it gently.
“Forgot what this kind of quiet feels like” he says
“Same” you reply, “it’s been a long time”
He leans in and presses a soft kiss to your temple. You rest your head against his shoulder, closing your eyes.
You for sure use ai because how so you don't post for few days and then you post one after the other and they are not at all short???? It's so suspicious, so how would you explain that huh?
First of all, how brave to say this anonymously, really /s
I sometimes write my stories back to back, especially the advent calendar ones, because I have some issues lately that don’t let me write them fully on the specific days. So I write them in one go sometimes and post them right after another, once I make sure there are no mistakes and everything looks good
To use today as an example, when I finished today’s story, I went back to finish yesterday’s, edited it and then posted before editing today’s and posting it. I like posting them in order. I like it when my profile looks neat
If your only reason for accusing me of using AI is that I post multiple stories close together, then maybe just don’t read my blog, because god forbid someone post more than one story/post at a time in such short time.
Character: GN!Reader and Johnny "Soap" MacTavish
Tone: Hurt/Comfort
Word count: 518
Prompt: Fireplace
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
The fireplace is already lit when you wander into the room, mostly because you did not know where else to go.
The rest of the safehouse feels too quiet in a way that makes your thoughts louder, so you end up here instead, sitting on the floor with your back against the couch and your hands tucked into your sleeves. The fire throws a warm orange glow across the walls, and you focus on it because it is easier than replaying everything that went wrong earlier.
You are staring into the flames when you hear footsteps behind you.
“Thought I might find you here”
You glance over your shoulder and see Soap standing there with a blanket folded under one arm, his expression shifting the second he gets a good look at you.
“Hey, you alright?” he asked, softer
You shrug the said barely audible “Yeah” which that was for sure not at all convincing.
Soap snorts quietly and walks over, dropping down onto the floor beside you. He does not ask if he can sit there, but he leaves a little space anyway, like he is giving you the option to close it if you want.
“That didn’t sound like ‘I am alright’ lass” he says.
You stare at the fire. “I messed up”
Soap hums quietly. “You had a rough day”
“That’s not an excuse”
“No” he agrees. “But it is a reason”
You swallow. “I froze... everyone was counting on me, and I just... froze”
He turns his head to look at you. You can feel it even before you see it.
“You didn’t freeze” he says calmly. “You hesitated, and there’s a difference”
“It felt like freezing”
“Yeah” he says “It usually does feels like this”
You pick at a loose thread on your sleeve “Price didn’t say anything”
Soap snorts quietly “That’s how you know it wasn’t as bad as you think”
That gets a small smile out of you, but it fades fast. “I hate feeling like this”
He shifts closer, this time letting his shoulder brush yours. “I know.”
After a moment your chest tightens again, but this time it feels different. Safer. Soap shoot some stupid joke, and it made you snort this time, real laughter sneaking out before you can stop it. He smiles a little, like that was exactly what he was aiming for.
He shifts closer, close enough that your shoulders touch. “You don’t have to be okay tonight”
You swallow. “I just don’t want to be dramatic”
“You’re not lass” he says, “You’re just human, a bit wrecked human right now”
He drapes the blanket over both of you without making a big deal out of it, and that makes your shoulders relax just a bit. You lean into him before you can overthink it, your head resting against his shoulder. He goes still for half a second, then his arm comes around you easy and natural.
“I’ve got you”
As he fire crackles softly in front of you, the warmth sinking into your skin, you are finally able to rest, even just for a bit.
Character: GN!Reader x Captain John Price
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 453
Prompt: Mistletoe
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
You notice the mistletoe when you tilt your head back to finish your drink.
It takes a second for your brain to register what you are looking at, and then you let out a quiet laugh. Of course there is mistletoe. Soap had been suspiciously cheerful all afternoon, and now you know why.
The safehouse looks nothing like it usually does. There are string lights taped along the walls, a small fake tree shoved into the corner, and someone has put tinsel in places that make absolutely no sense. It feels strange and kind of nice, especially since this is your first Christmas here. More importantly, it is your first Christmas with Price.
You are still standing there, staring up at the mistletoe, when you hear familiar footsteps behind you.
“What’s caught your attention?” Price asks.
You turn around, lifting your mug slightly. “Look up”
He does, and for a moment he just blinks. Then a small smile appeared on his lips, the kind he only seems to use with you.
“Well” he says “that explains a few things”
You grin. “We can move if you want”
Price looks at you for a second, then glances up at the mistletoe again like he is weighing his options. When his gaze comes back to you, there is something gentle there, a bit of amusement.
“Do we have to?” he asks.
You shrug, pretending to think about it. “I don’t know, might be dangerous, rules and all that” He huffs a quiet laugh and steps closer anyway.
“I’m not overly concerned” You laugh softly, and before you can say anything else, he reaches out and takes your mug from your hands. He sets it on the table beside you like it is the most natural thing in the world, then rests his hand at your waist. The touch is easy, familiar, not rushed.
“First Christmas with the team” he says “Didn’t expect it to look like this”
“Good or bad?” you ask.
“Good” he answers without hesitation “Difinetely, good”
You look up at him, and for a moment neither of you says anything. Then he leans in, slowly, giving you plenty of time to pull away, but you don’t.
The kiss is warm and easy, more sweet than anything else. It lasts just long enough to make you smile, his thumb moving slightly at your side like he is not in any hurry to let go. When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against yours.
“Merry Christmas” he says quietly.
You smile. “It’s not even Christmas yet”
“Still counts” he replies, pressing another this time quick and gentle kiss to your lips before stepping back just enough to grab your mug again and hand it to you.
Character: GN!Reader x Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and their daughter
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 633
Prompt: First snow
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
You only realized it was snowing because Kyle stopped mid-sentence while he was talking about absolutely nothing important. He had been standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, rambling the way he always did in the mornings, when he suddenly went quiet and turned his head toward the window.
You followed his gaze and looked towards the window. He squinted at the glass, then let out a short laugh “I think it’s actually snowing”
That immediately got your attention. You walked over and looked out the window with him, and sure enough, there it was. It was snowing enough for snow sticking to the ground in a thin white layer that had definitely not been there the night before.
“Oh” you said, smiling without even meaning to “It really is”
Before either of you could say anything else, you heard the familiar sound of your daughter waking up and wandering out of her room. She padded into the living room, hair sticking up in every direction, clutching her stuffed animal like she was still deciding whether being awake was worth it.
“Ba” she said sleepily, then looked at Kyle “Da”
Kyle crouched immediately, in front of her “Morning love”
You walked up closer yourself, and picked her up, turning slightly so she could see out the window. “Hey sweetheart, look outside”
She blinked at first, clearly still waking up, then her eyes focused on the snow. Her expression changed almost instantly, confusion turning into excitement in the span of a second.
“White” she said, pointing.
“Yeah” Kyle said, grinning. “That’s snow”
She pressed her hand against the window and bounced in your arms. “Snow! Snow!”
You laughed “Yes, snow., it’s the first time you can actually see it like this”
She turned to look at you, then back at the window, then at Kyle, like she was trying to figure out if this was something she was allowed to be excited about. “Play?” she asked.
Kyle didn’t even hesitate “Absolutely, but not until we get you dressed properly”
That did not slow her down at all. Getting her ready took twice as long as usual because she kept stopping to look out the window. You zipped her coat while she squirmed, Kyle wrestled her boots onto her feet, and she kept repeating “snow” like she was afraid it might disappear if she stopped saying it.
By the time you finally got outside, she froze in place for a moment, not scared, just completely overwhelmed. The ground looked different and just looking directly at the snow was blinding.
You held her hand while she took a few careful steps, staring down at her boots as they left little prints behind. Then she crouched and scooped up a handful of snow, immediately dropping it with a startled laugh when it slipped through her fingers.
“It’s cold” you said, smiling.
She nodded very seriously “Cold”
Kyle knelt beside her and showed her how to gather it properly, guiding her hands while explaining what he was doing in simple words. The snowball barely held together, but she laughed like it was the greatest achievement of her life.
She didn’t do much actual playing. Mostly she walked around and laughed at the way snow stuck to her mittens, and looked back at you and Kyle every few seconds like she needed to check that you were still there.
Eventually, Kyle lifted her up, brushing snow off her coat “Alright” he said, smiling at you “I think that’s enough for day one”
She didn’t argue, already tired but still clearly thrilled, resting her head against his shoulder while you headed back inside. You glanced out at the snow one more time before closing the door, already knowing this would be one of those moments you’d remember long after it will melt.
Character: GN!Reader x Johnny "Soap" MacTavish
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 450
Prompt: Hot cocoa
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
Johnny had been hovering in the kitchen for a while before you finally noticed him. Not in an obvious way, just lingering near the counter, opening cupboards he did not need to open and glancing toward the stove like he was waiting for something to happen on its own.
You were leaning against the counter, scrolling on your phone, when you finally looked up. “You’ve checked that cupboard three times,” you said. “If you’re looking for something, you can just ask”
He grinned, completely unbothered by being caught. “I was hoping you’d make hot cocoa”
You raised an eyebrow “That’s not subtle”
“I’m not trying to be subtle” Johnny said, shrugging as he leaned his elbows on the counter. “Well, you’re already in the kitchen, and you make it better than I do”
You sighed, but there was no real annoyance in it “You say that every time”
“And every time I’m right” he replied easily.
You put your phone down and reached for a mug, pulling out the cocoa powder and milk. Johnny watched you like this was the most interesting thing in the world, resting his chin in his hand.
“You know” he said “I could help you”
You looked at him as you measured the cocoa “Yeah, but last time you ‘helped,’ you over boiled the milk”
“That was one time” he protested “And I was a bit distracted”
“By what?”
“By you” he said without missing a beat.
You paused for half a second, then shook your head, trying not to smile. “You’re ridiculous”
As the milk warmed, Johnny stepped closer to the counter, watching you with an easy, relaxed focus. He looked like he had nowhere else he needed to be, content to linger while you worked.
“You’re really taking this seriously” he said amused.
“You asked for it” you replied, stirring the cocoa. “If I’m making it, I’m making it properly”
“Fair” Johnny said, smilin.
You poured the cocoa into two mugs and handed one to him. He wrapped both hands around it immediately, sighing in contentment.
“Oh, that’s perfect" he said. “You always get it just right”
You leaned back against the counter, lifting your own mug. “It’s literally cocooa powder and milk”
“Still” Johnny said, bumping his shoulder into yours again “It tastes better when you make it”
The two of you stood there for a moment, sipping in comfortable silence. Johnny glanced at you over the rim of his mug, his expression relaxed in a way you didn’t get to see all that often.
“Thanks” he said quietly.
You smiled. “For the cocoa?”
“For this” he replied, gesturing vaguely between the two of you, the kitchen, the moment. “It’s nice”
Character: GN!Reader x Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and their daughter
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 297
Prompt: Wrapping presents
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
You were sitting cross-legged on the bedroom floor, a stack of not yet wrapped presents in front of you. The scissors rested on your knee, tape dangling from one hand as you tried to get the wrapping just right. The bedroom door was closed, and the muffled sound of your daughter’s tiny feet pattering around the living room reached you faintly.
From the other side of the door, you could hear Kyle’s voice. “Come on, love, let’s build a spaceship out of cushions while Ba finishes up. It’ll be fun!”
“I want Ba!” your daughter called back, stamping her foot. “I want Ba now!”
Kyle chuckled, leaning against the sofa and pretending to look serious. “Y/N! She’s insisting! Can you come out for a second?”
You sighed, setting the scissors down carefully. “Alright, alright,” you said, opening the door. Your daughter’s face lit up immediately, and she ran toward you with her little arms wide.
“Ba!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around your legs.
“Hey, little troublemaker,” you said, scooping her up. “Want me to help you with something?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Yes! Play! Dolls! Tea party!”
You settled on the floor with her, spreading a few dolls and a small play tea set between you. “Which cup should we use first?” you asked, picking up a tiny pink one.
“The pink one! No, wait—the yellow! Both!” she decided, giggling.
As the two of you got lost in imaginary tea pouring and elaborate doll stories, Kyle quietly stood and moved to the hallway. While you were fully engaged in the tea party, he gathered the rest of the gifts that hadn’t been wrapped yet. Carefully, one by one, he stacked them on top of the wardrobe, far enough out of sight that your daughter wouldn’t notice.
Character: GN!Reader x Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and their daughter
Tone: Fluff
Word count: 339
Prompt: Matching pajamas
Cod Advent Calendar masterlist ● Main Masterlist
You are halfway through wiping down the kitchen counter when the front door opens, followed almost immediately by excited footsteps.
“Ba!” your daughter squeals as she runs into the kitchen, arms thrown wide before she wraps herself around your legs. You crouch down instinctively to hug her back, laughing as she nearly knocks you off balance.
“Hey, sweetheart, did you have fun?” you ask, brushing a loose curl from her face.
She nods vigorously, eyes sparkling. “Daddy bought something fun! For everyone!”
You glance up just in time to see Kyle stepping in behind her, bags in hand and a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“You did the thing, didn’t you?” you ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Maybe,” he says, shrugging sheepishly. “Thought it was good time for it”
He puts the groceries away while your daughter clings happily to your leg, spinning in place and babbling excitedly. Once the last bag is stowed, Kyle reaches for a smaller parcel hidden among the groceries.
“Alright,” he says, kneeling down so your daughter can see. “Time for the big reveal.”
He takes out of the bag three sets of pajamas, an set them all on the counter. All three are matching, one for you, one for him and one for your daughter. She squeals again, pointing and bouncing in place. “Same! Same!”
You smile, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. “I can't believe in you” you say, looking at Kyle.
“Figured it might be nice,” he replies, tugging at his shirt. “For her and for us.”
Getting changed is half the fun. Your daughter insists on dressing herself, struggling with sleeves and pant legs while you and Kyle offer gentle guidance. She finally stands, triumphant, in her tiny matching pajamas, grinning from ear to ear.
Later, the three of you curl up on the sofa, with a warm blanket draped over the three of you. Your daughter rests her head against Kyle’s chest, eyes already half-closed, while you lean against him from the other side.
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