A Living Shield (John Price x OC/Reader slowburn)

13) Gear Up

[Song 🎵: Playground - Bea Miller]

There it was.

That familiar feeling of nerves and anticipation intertwining.

The moment your body prepared for that incoming adrenaline rush.

That sweet feeling you'd missed so dearly.

The flight was taking a while but for once the time spent waiting didn't bother you. Your mind was clear, focused. Ready to get out.

You were in uniform, strapped in completely in the military aircraft, your heavier stuff like your vest and helmet on the side next to you. Besides you the only person present in the loading bay was Price. Sat on the opposite side of you. Lost deep in thought. He looked tired, understandable with the amount of work he and the lads had done in the last 2 weeks. Including all the moving back and forth from base to the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela.

"Sir, I told you, take a nap. I won't tell the boys."

A chuckle escaped him.

"Somehow I doubt that. Do I look that knackered?"

"Well you look older than usual, if that's any indication."

"Ever thought it's your commentary tha's addin' unnecessary years to my face, Green?"

The gleam in his eyes didn't escape you. You bit back a grin. You'd had to miss this back and forth for a week straight and you had to catch up somehow. The atmosphere of the intimate tattoo conversation from hours ago forgotten. For the better.

"Ever thought that's why I do it, sir?"

"Keep goin' like that and I'll have to show you what I can still do at my age."

"Oh, don't threaten me with a mediocre time, captain."

"Keep your energy. You're gonna need it later", he sighed, while shaking his head.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back.

Oh, so we're actually ignoring me now. Classy.

You snorted at his attempt to avoid the conversation. He was a lot easier to shut up when tired. Not as difficult as usual.

You let him be for a bit, your thoughts traveling down towards the racing ground beneath you, your anticipation to set foot on it. It had been too long.

You noticed the descent before it was even announced to the both of you. Price opened his eyes, suddenly fully awake. Locking gazes for a second, you looked at each other. As if hardening your faces in unison, the space for your antagonizing banter over. You saw the way he looked at you, like a superior. Like your captain. You nodded at him, in understanding.

That expression of him always gave you a thrill you couldn't quite place. You honed in on it every time he displayed it and the utter coldness of it, that screamed the air of command, was intoxicating. Like it could make you do anything he'd wanted to, with the snap of a finger.

It genuinely made him feel like your captain. And you felt both giddy and proud to call him that, not that you would give him the satisfaction of knowing it.

As the plane touched ground, you both grabbed your gear, ready to unbuckle whenever the aircraft stopped. It was a rough landing, clearly not the even tarmac you had on base. It spoke off the conditions outside.

Hoisting yourselves out of your seats, you both slung your gear and bag over your shoulders as you waited for the cargo bay to open. Standing next to each other in anticipation, you waited. The big steel door opening as it slowly lowered and extended itself, heat and bright light greedily seeping through.