Simon didnât understand pet names. Not really. Heâd heard the other soldiers call their partners birds, but no one had ever specified what kind.
So, when he came home to you, he started small. Romance was still new to him, after all. His hands would settle on your hips, a soft kiss pressed to your neckâ
It should have stopped there. But it didnât.
Next week, he walked in to find you dressed to the nines, ready for date night. His breath caught, a low groan rumbling against his mask.
âGod⊠you look gorgeous, my harpy eagle.â
Youâd barely recovered from that one when a few days later he called down the hallâ
âKakapo, whereâd you put the shaving cream?â
At this point, you didnât even want to correct him. Half the fun was seeing just how many birds he actually knew. You werenât sure if it was some odd quirk heâd picked up or if he genuinely thought this was normalâbut it was sweet in its own strange way.
Then came the team dinner.
Pints clinking, laughter rolling, Price making some terrible joke. You thought youâd be safe, but then Simon leaned back in his chair, one arm slung comfortably around your shoulders.
âThis is my fairywren,â he said, almost smug.
The table went quiet. Soap blinked. Gaz frowned. Price raised a brow.
âThe fuck is a fairywren, Ghost?â
Simon looked at them like they were the idiots. âItâs a bird. Australian.â
You smiled at his obliviousness, and the team left it alone.
Until he comes home a few weeks later.
âMy love,â heâd start cupping your face in his hand, âwhy didnât you tell me it wasnât normal to call you bird names?â
Youâd smile slightly, âwho told you?â
âSo itâs true,â and his face would heat up, âSoap told meâŠâ