Sharp Point
cook!reader x 141
imagine if word gets around that Crook is getting too friendly with the 141, the men have taken it upon themselves to make sure your reputation doesn't get affected
when in reality they just fuck it up themselves. Tremendously.
Warning: Brief mentions of blood, jeopardizing rumors, angst with no comfort, very very very very much incorrect writing of how kitchens work on bases
ALSO: if you don't like how I format this series bro, just go away, you don't have to tell me lmao.
Dividers by: @cafekitsune
COD masterlist
Cook!reader Masterlist
✦ So like just imagine that unbeknownst to you, something's changed within the base. Of course, you wouldn't see it right away, you're in the kitchen every hour of the day.
✦ But little things start to catch your eye.
✦ The way a group of new soldiers tend to watch you when you interact with Gaz. The scoff that escapes one of the rookies after you assure Ghost there are still rolls they are just not ready. The sigh escapes another soldier right when Soap tries to make conversation.
✦ You don't mention anything about it. Mostly because what are you gonna do about it?
✦ You're the one making their food after all.
✦ But then the week's chore schedules come out. And you're irritated as fuck.
✦ Because why the hell is Sevan and Jason being pulled out of their shifts?
✦ You need Sevan for the lunch rush. And you need Jason desperately for the breakfast rush too. On top of that, Lottie isn't even in the kitchen with you for some fucking reason. She's not even a soldier.
✦ The only ones that stay put are Marco and Paul, who are just employees.
✦ So naturally you take it to Ms. Copper.
✦ "Hey so is there something wrong with the schedule? My crew isn't where I need them to be."
✦ Ms. Copper raises her brow, tilting her head in confusion.
✦ "There shouldn't be a change, Crook. Let me take a look."
✦ So she sees the same thing you do and with her own authority just simply changes it back! Easy.
✦ Until You notice Price’s heated gaze on Jason as he laughs about something Paul said to him out the window and switches the trays of food the next morning.
✦ Until you see Simon silently staring across the way to Sevan helping the dishwashers, collecting dirty plates and utensils.
✦ Dinner was fine until you were getting ready for clean up and Price came marching in. "And just where the bloody hell were you two muppets this morning."
✦ You were shocked at his volume, his pointed glare, even his tense posture. He looked like a Captain alright.
✦ "What's happenin' here?"
✦ Price’s arms are crossed, as his glare gets transferred to you. "These two were here playing kitchenmaid when they were meant to be at training."
✦ "Yeah I know, I had the schedule switched when it came out. I thought you got the update." You respond, looking back at Jason and Sevan as they joined just to catch Marco before the trio left for the night. “Both of you weren't working the dinner shift so-”
✦ “We were at training,” Jason explains. “We just weren’t meant to be with the morning team.”
✦ Sevan only nods, but the two look almost fearful. You can imagine what their punishment is for skipping training of all things.
✦ Price looks deep in thought before he blinks and waves his hand off. “Carry on then.” Is all he states before he turns to leave.
✦ You hear the two soldiers sigh in relief when he leaves but dammit. What was the point of all that?
✦ When your crew finishes with clean up, and you’ve removed your uniform into your civilian clothes, you head out to find Price.
✦ Passing other soldiers you miss their small glances, the small whispers behind your back. How could you focus on them? After all you had one thing on your mind and besides, you figured the soldiers liked you at least. No way they would turn around and talk about you like that right?
✦ A gruff ‘come in’ brings you to poke your head through the now-opened door. You see Price sitting down with Ghost looking over his shoulder at his computer. What it could be you have no clue.
✦ But you don’t think you want to ask after Ghost pats him quickly on the arm and watches as Price quickly clicks to something else. It has you pause for a moment, quickly bringing a nervous smile to your face. “Bad time?”
✦ “No, Love,” Price coughs, waving his hand in front of his face. “No not at all. What’s the matter? Someone giving you trouble?”
✦ You scoff, crossing your arms over your chest after you close the door behind you. “Sure something like that.”
✦ Ghost’s fist clenched for a moment, almost missed entirely by you if you didn’t notice how they flexed back open. Your eyes meet Price’s and you're taken aback by the look of anger that flashes through them before they soften on you.
✦ “Who?” He huffs through his chapped lips. “We’ll take care of it, don’t you worry-”
✦ “John-” You hold your hand up, pausing his rant. Your feet carry you across the room right in front of his desk. “I’m talking about your attitude earlier.”
✦ The two men blink, heads turning to look at each other before returning their sights to you. “Say again?”
✦ You shake your head, bewildered. “You cannot be serious.”
✦ Your hands glide over your forehead, a small laugh escaping you. “You went completely mad in the mess hall earlier! Nearly had those soldiers pissing themselves in fear!”
✦ Simon snorts, his hands brushing against each other before they cross over his chest. His posture relaxes, but his cockiness is still standing tall. “We were told the schedule was solidified-”
✦ “And by who?” You rest your hands on your hips. “Who gives you the right to schedule out my crew?”
✦ “Some of your crew are our men.” Price scoffs. “I need them in training. They enlisted and now they’re here, they’re not your little minions to-”
✦ “I never said they were!” You scoff, smiling in astonishment. “Besides, I’m well aware they’re your soldiers. I only see them every morning and evening, and sometimes on Thursdays I’ll see them all day long.”
✦ Your crew has been the same for the past two years, and the five of you began this sort of arrangement you have a year into the job. Nothing changed when things started, so why must things be changed now?
✦ Especially since they knew how bad it could get in the kitchen to have randoms in the mix, the boys get switched out, but they’re there for the majority of prep.
✦ Jason is skilled with a knife and translates well with cutting vegetables and meats. He’s also very handy with the communication. Most might think it’s you calling the next items but no. That’s all him.
✦ Sevan knows sanitation like the back of his hand. He keeps the kitchen in order while tidying up and dammit does he send food out like a machine.
✦ “Well we needed them this morning-”
✦ “Okay, and that could’ve been communicated, John.”
✦ “What happens when they’re deployed elsewhere then?” He snaps.
✦ Honestly, the hostility you’re being shown shocks you. Not once has he ever shown this kind of side of him. It seems to have Ghost on edge as well because he keeps glancing in between the both of you.
✦ “Then we get it scheduled to ourselves. Me, Lottie, Paul and Marco! We pick up the slack.” You scoff. “You act like this had never happened before. When your soldiers are deployed I get a load off of me, they aren’t needed-”
✦ “Then learn to do it starting today.” Price knocks on the table, beginning to walk his way towards you. “We aren’t your bloody employees, Crook-”
✦ “Don’t.” You snap back, a finger pointed right on his chest as you stride forward, right in front of him. “I never once treated you like an employee. Nor any of the others. John, you know how stressful the kitchen gets when random people are-”
✦ Again, the captain cuts you off. “This is the last time I’m discussing this. The schedule’s been changed. This is for your good.”
✦ With that he, with some nerve, leads you out of his office with a slam of the door behind you.
✦ You honestly almost want to scream.
✦ That same night you see the change in the schedule, making you almost yank your hair out. It just about has you turning right back around to Copper’s office. But what the hell did Price mean by ‘for your own good?’
✦ The next morning there are two randoms in your kitchen
✦ You don’t get the chance to memorize their names because when lunch rolls around they’re switched.
✦ Yes, each chow hour there is a new pair in your fucking kitchen.
✦ The first two got along just fine with others, you had them on prep for the majority of it. They at least knew to shout something when they were passing their finished product.
✦ The lunch pair was a little worse for wear, you had to throw out a good tray of potatoes because one spilled the pasta salad in the mixer.
✦ Dinner was rough.
✦Not enough prep was done for the meat and bad cuts were being cooked. Most of it was charred. Lottie got hit above the head when she was crouched, with a metal tray of chopped celery because one of the rando’s didn’t shout ‘behind.’
✦ Then clean up. They half-assed everything.
✦ There was still residue on the silverware, the floors weren’t mopped, and there was a whole tub of dishes left to the side.
✦ It was Soap to find you later in the night, furiously wiping a warm soapy rag all around a plate that had crusts of the spaghetti sauce from earlier.
✦ “Crook?”
✦ ”What?”
✦ ”er…ye still joining us fer-”
✦ “No. Tell John I said he can fuck right off too.”
✦ Ouch.
✦ So naturally, he does. Cause he’s Soap fucking MacTavish and he and Gaz are way out of the fucking loop here.
✦ When they get to the bar, without you much to Price’s disappointment, Soap shares the message.
✦ “I didn’t wanna ask, after all, she’s skilled with a knife, gentlemen.” Gaz snickers into his beer before taking a swig. “But what the fuck was going on? I’m sure I heard Crook invent like five new curses in a record time.”
✦ ”Yeah, Price. Do tell. Tell ‘em what you did.”
✦ The lieutenant is met with a cold stare from his commanding officer, which he returns with his own steely eyes.
✦ “I pulled the pair of soldiers we had with her.”
✦ “And for what reason?”
✦ The Captain is quiet for only a moment before he leans in. “Heard some of the rookies making comments bout Crook.”
✦ “So why not have us deal with it? They should know better-”
✦ “Because they weren’t just talking about er. They were talkin’ bout you two.”
✦ The sergeants blink in confusion.
✦ “So a bit of gossip then? So what? ‘S not like we-”
✦ “So.” the lieutenant chimes in. “That means her job is in jeopardy.”
✦ The whole table is silent. Not a word gets uttered from either of them. Just the ol’ jukebox that sounds just about ready to die in the back of the bar and few of the customers that surround them.
✦ You’re not a soldier. No. But you are a civilian who works with military officials. There is a code of conduct everyone should follow.
✦ And you do. To your own knowledge, you do.
✦ “What’d they say?”
✦ Price leans back, his hand sliding upon the polished wood of the table. “Tha’ you and the pair of kitchen hands were passin’ her around like some barracks bunny…”
✦ Soap eyes widen, offended on your own behalf.
✦ “That’s fuckin’ ridiculous-”
✦ “Aye- where the fuck did they come up with-”
✦ “It doesn’t matter. That’s why I pulled the two soldiers. They’re thinkin’ they’re involved too.”
✦ With that in mind, the sergeants do little to interact with you in the daytime.
✦ You almost feel hurt if it wasn’t for the stress the kitchen was piling up on.
✦ The breakfast pair was a new pair of faces, rookies, that would not stop fucking yapping.
✦ You thought you found a small life hack, where putting the new guys on the prep would take a load off you.
✦ But no.
✦ They talk and talk and talk.
✦ It’d be different if they talk and work but fucking hell dude. They just stand and talk. No chopping or peeling or anything.
✦ You had to get on their ass for the fourth time that hour before the timer for Lunch cooking started.
✦ “You guys are excused. But for the love of God just do something right and clean up your station-”
✦ “Sorry ms. Cook, we don’t take orders from you”
✦ “Yeah you excused us. Maybe the sergeants can teach you a thing or two about ordering around.”
✦ Marco whirled around, brows furrowed. “The fuck you say-?”
✦ “Alright!” You shout. “No dicking around in my fucking kitchen. You two- OUT!”
✦ The pair left with a scoff, both cackling as they tossed their aprons on the hooks.
✦ “Fucking Christ, Crook. I didn’t think the rumors were actually like a thing.” Marco sighs out.
✦ “What rumors?”
✦ So Marco, the loverly gossip sponge, spills how after that little snapping match you had with Price, Sevan, and Jason told him how new rookies were talking smack about you.
✦ “Not just the rookies, either. Some of the seasoned guys here too. Guess they’re startin’ to believe it. I’m sorry, Crook I thought you knew.”
✦ You turn to meet eyes with Lottie, who looks just as confused as you are before she gasps in horror. “Oh my God, that kiss-”
✦ The two people that walked out of the base when you and Soap were outside- you really didn’t think anything of it.
✦ “Ugh, and Jason must’ve opened his trap about the mouse thing with Garrick-”
✦ “We have mice?”
✦ “No!” you and Lottie shout as Paul barely walks in from the freezer with the next main course.
✦ “Hey now, Jason can keep a secret- hell I didn’t even know bout any of that.” Marco tries to defend. “Besides, that still doesn’t explain why they got moved out of the kitchen.”
✦ “Unless the Sergeant did it to keep their mouths shut.” Paul muses, sharpening the set of knives being used to chop the next few pieces of vegetables.
✦ “Kyle is not like that. This is all a big misunderstanding.”
✦ You just know Price is not going to budge, so you go to Ghost of all people to help you out.
✦ You think you have a tight enough bond with him to provide you with a little bit of help. Or maybe just to be in your corner.
✦ But no matter how many times you go to Simon for some kind of answer, you’re met with resistance.
✦ “How about for morning prep?” “No”
✦ “For lunch cleaning?” “No time.”
✦ “Can they at least help me cooking-”
✦ Simon snapped at that one. “Crook, we said no. Do I need to fucking spell the word for you? Deal with the change or fuck right o-”
✦ He almost looked shocked at his words. Like he didn’t really have control of his mouth for a moment.
✦ You didn’t cry, your lip didn’t wobble. But my my, did you look so defeated.
✦ “I just need help, Si…” You sigh. “You know how you train your men for the field? I trained those two on my own. And you won’t even tell me why you took them back like that.”
✦ After that there was more tension in the kitchen. You’d stray away from the four, which they suppose helped the rumors die down. But damn. You wouldn’t even call their names anymore.
✦ Then the breaking point.
✦ You should’ve really thought better than to supply these idiots with sharp kitchen knives. They aren’t like their hunting knives where they can practice they’re stabbing-
✦ No these things are meant to cut meat.
✦ So when you heard Marco scream from the kitchen while you were checking in on the serving crew, you felt your heart sink.
✦ You race in, ignoring the commotion behind you of soldiers standing up to see if what ever happened was in their view.
✦ They do see you come back out with blood on your left hand as you shout ‘Medic!’
✦ From what you gathered from the apologizing rookie, is that Marco turned around the corner from a station (that wasn’t his) and the rookie was coming back from the sharpening shelves on the wall.
✦ The blade was pointed forward and Marco ran right into it.
✦ There was so much blood on Paul’s hand from where he tried to stop the bleeding. The knife was removed when he fell to his knees.
✦ You didn’t know what to do. You didn’t know who to talk to.
✦ And when Captain John Price makes his way towards you, worry in his eye,
✦ You can’t help but glare and hug yourself in hopes he doesn’t reach out to hug you. You’re too angry.
✦ He knows.
✦ “Crook…”
✦ “I told you.” You mutter. “They said they punctured something in him. He needed a blood transfusion. That might be light work for you soldiers or rookies but we aren’t soldiers. At least not anymore.”
✦ You stand from your seat, walking towards him. “If there’s a problem with silly rumors, Captain. Let me deal with it. Those people are like my family. And Sevan and Jason? Would have never done something like this.”
✦ Your eye never leaves him. Unblinking. “Either put them back or end this arrangement. I’m not having people get hurt because you think I can’t handle HR or stupid fucking rumors.”
✦ With that you walk away from him.
✦ And he wonders for a moment if you walked away from them completely...
heh, I needed a reason to write Price and Simon's solo fics.
Thanks for reading! Please comment and reblog I'd appreciate it!