Note: I'll use they/them pronouns because I can't avoid pronouns, and it's the closest thing to a universal one. I will use it on y/n and the theoretical partner, the latter because I believe the reader would have more fun imagining the lesser partner to the gender they feel to use. Pardon any errors as this wasn’t beta read.
Gaz wasn’t the type of guy to cause drama or fight for someone who didn't want him. But he tore your partner down at every chance he could— and lifted you up. You are reading this so your self-esteem is low and you couldn't deny a compliment from a Sergeant.
He probably knew that you respected him. Perhaps he knew that you had a crush on him— if you're reading this, you definitely do. He would say, “Y/n already does it better.” “Everything is a clusterfuck to you. But y/n gets it. They have the brains in the relationship.”
You assumed that it was simply friendly jabbing to your partner. You got the nicer treatment because you were new and haven't gotten into the jabbing. Your partner expected Gaz to target you when you became comfortable enough to tell Price that the reason Ghost hides his face is because he's Price’s clone in a drunken ramble that would make Alex Jones proud. You kept pointing at their blue eyes. Gaz did point out that Ghost has blonde lashes so he was a blond, and that there's no way in God’s green earth that Price’s genes wouldn't dominate.
Then you called him a sexist and tried to explain the mitochondria but you impulsively followed it with ‘the powerhouse of the cell’. You bursted out laughing and leaned on Gaz, his sturdy body and warmth even more attractive with your lack of shame.
You didn't see your partner reach for your waist, “Okay get off him.”
“You think they can't take care of themself?” Gaz thought your partner was so easy to fuck with.
“Doesn’t even let me offer them a smoke,” Price said. He'd always support Gaz, even if this was the pettiest war he has ever witnessed.
“I just feel really protected with you,” you told your partner quite loudly.
You couldn't see Soap’s oh boy expression, but you did hear Ghost whisper to him: “Pipe’s broken.”
“But like, I got these guys,” you told your partner.
“Darling-” Price tried to be the mature one and prevent a scene, but Gaz lifted a finger. Price just rubbed his forehead and ordered another cigar.
“Are you fucking them?” Your partner spat. They meant to say that they're not your partner, but Gaz took the chance to make it sound terrible.
“We would never,” Gaz pointed at you, “And neither and y/n.”
“Stay out of this,” Your partner looked at Gaz with panic.
“You put us in there,” Soap said, trying to make it seem fair.
You threw your drink at your partner, which was now just ice water with drops of alcohol, and stormed off. You could hear Ghost’s rare laugh as you tried not to cry in the bar. You'd cry in the car.
Gaz would follow suit. He would make his guilty face seem more like pity towards you. You ask him to enter the car and he sits besides you on the passenger seat.
You lean your head on his shoulder. “He’s so jealous. It’s embarrassing. I don’t get why guys think that’s attraction.”
“He’s not here because of his brains,” he said. You couldn’t see his satisfied expression.
