Captain John Price x Reader

Forty-Four

One thing that was hard to like about Laswell was the way she carried herself.

No matter how little time there was, no matter how terrible the people were she had to deal with, she always acted distant and unbothered.

As a trained social unit you knew how important it was to keep your emotions in check.

But with Laswell that was something entirely different.

Every time you were around her she felt empty, lifeless. Either because she was a hollow puppet of the government or she had stopped to care about her job a long time ago and was now only in for the money.

Both didn't please you.

But who were you to judge?

In the end, you went any different from her. But you tried to keep that little spark of humanity that was still inside of you alive as long as possible.

"We need to check the intel together so that I can give the following orders.", Laswell explained as she put the USB stick into a laptop. "You two have authority, that's right, but you are not allowed to act on your own."

Price crossed his arms in front of his chest and tilted his head.

He looked about as thrilled as you, a little offended even.

"Pardon?", he asked.

His voice was hoarse yet so loud that it was easy to hear the warning in it.

Laswell looked up.

Their eyes locked.

A low sound made his chest vibrate.

You knew that sound.

Either she'd give him a solid reason right on the spot or he'd be out and take matters into his own hands.

At the beginning of the job you had thought that both Price and Laswell got along quite well. Their files stated that they had worked together a large number of times, mainly operations in the Middle East.

But now that you had experienced the two in action, it seemed like they had two different definitions of what fulfilling their duty was.

Price liked to work apart from the rules and orders. He was a capable man, he knew what he was doing without some high ranked asshole telling him.

Laswell, on the other hand, loved rules and would even stick to them if it meant the end of humanity.

A deep breath escaped her.

"It's for the protocol, John.", she said after a moment of staring into each other's souls.

His name from her mouth made him pull a face.

It was strange to see, but whenever you called him that he had some sort of small shock, but in a good kind of way.

But as she said it he looked disgusted. As if he didn't want anybody else but you to call him by his name.

Laswell, he took a step towards her.

You rushed forward.

With one hand on his arm, you gently pushed him back and slid between him and her.

"Katie.", you looked her in the eyes, as serious as you've never been. "We don't got time for protocol bullshit. Hand us the video and we're off."

Her lips moved.

It was easy to tell that she was about to say no or wanted to tell you off because, technically, she was your supervisor.

A slim smile appeared on her lips all of a sudden. It was as fake as the eyelids of a snake, but a necessary evil to keep her face.

"I'm already here anyways.", she said and gestured for your and Price to take a seat. "Let's do the briefing and everyone goes on their way."

A huff escaped you.

Price took a seat.

His hand reached out and got a hold of your shoulder.

The pressure that he put on you was enough to make your legs fold as well.

"Thanks, dad.", you growled and gifted him an annoyed look that was supposed to be for Laswell. "I know how to sit."

A soft smile made the corners of his mouth rise.

"Just wanted to make sure.", he hummed. "A partner helps with the hard stuff."

A snort made your nose curl.

"You're such a cunt."

He shrugged, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, well, that's why we make such a good team. Cunts go best with pricks, eh?"

"Hm.", you smirked.

"Can we get to the point then?", Laswell asked.

It was audible that she didn't like the development between the two of you.

Price, as a passive aggressive Brit and you, as an enigma with about as much decency as a troll, were a terrible combination for a rule loving, proud American woman as she was.

You and him exchanged a quick glance, smirking like high school girls and nodded.

"You go, Katie.", you said. "The stage is all yours."

A sigh escaped her.

On the screen of the laptop popped open some windows.

The first seemed unnecessary, just a bunch of folders with titles you weren't fully able to read.

Laswell, however, didn't speak anything else but English. With expectation in her eyes, she looked up.

Rolling your eyes, you slid further to the screen.

"Try the third from above.", you said.

"Why that one?", she asked.

"It says eagle."

"Seems legit.", Price noted.

"Yeah, but the others are all baking stuff. Like flour or sugar? That's the only different one."

Laswell did as you said.

A password window popped up.

"Shit.", Price hissed. "We don't have any password."

For a moment, you stared at the window.

"Try the French, but in German.", you suggested. "It's spelled F-R-A-N-Z-O-S-E-N. Franzosen."

For a moment, she eyed you with so much doubt in her eyes that you felt offended.

"It's not like we've got anything to loose, right?", she said in a sarcastic manner and started typing.

Nervous, you had to take a deep breath.

This was a gamble on luck.

And you weren't famous for your luck but rather skill.

Laswell pressed the last key.

Your heart stopped.

The window disappeared.

A message popped up.

Laswell's head snapped into your direction.

"Access granted.", you translated with a smirk on your face. "Holy shit."