The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal, and the distant hum of ship systems filled the background. Despite the impending drop into hostile territory, the atmosphere among the Spartans was light, their camaraderie evident in their playful banter.
John, despite being a towering figure in his MIRAGE-IIC armor, was the shortest among the Spartans, a fact that his teammates never let him forget. Fred leaned against the vehicle, a sly grin spreading under his helmet as he watched John double-check his gear.
"You know, John, if you keep shrinking at this rate, we might need to get you a booster seat for the Warthog," Fred teased, his voice echoing slightly through their comms.
Kelly, adjusting her gauntlets, laughed, her voice bright and mischievous. "Yeah, Chief, how's the weather down there? Need a little lift to reach the top shelf?"
John, ever the stoic, simply huffed, a small smirk hiding beneath his stoic exterior. "Keep it up, and I might just forget to cover you when the Grunts come calling," he shot back, his tone light but pointed.
The group chuckled, the easy tease a familiar part of their interactions. It was Linda, however, who decided to escalate the jest. She strode over to John, her movements graceful and cat-like, her usually silent demeanor shifting as she entered their playful fray. With a swift motion, surprising in its gentleness, she scooped John up by the back of his legs.
"Hold on, Spartan," she said, her voice a mix of amusement and challenge as she hoisted him against the metallic wall of the hangar. The cold surface clashed with the warmth from her hands, strong yet careful around his armor.
John, caught off guard but unopposed, looked down at her, an eyebrow raised behind his visor. "Linda, what—"
She cut him off, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable smirk. "Just giving you a better view, hero." And with that, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was as surprising as it was bold, pinning him lightly against the wall, her hands steady on his thighs.
The room fell silent, the playful atmosphere shifting to something softer, more intimate, even if for a moment. Kelly whistled lowly, her voice a whisper in their comms, "Get a room, you two."
Fred clapped his hands, his laughter booming through the hangar. "That's one way to shut him up."
John, after a moment of surprise, relaxed into the kiss, his arms tentatively wrapping around Linda. As she set him back on the ground, he couldn't help the genuine smile that crept across his face, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Guess I do get the best view," he conceded, his voice low and filled with a warmth reserved only for moments like these.
Also, I love that Kelly and Fred are the lowkey bullies >:D
