Seal Team Fanfic

Metal - Valentine's Secret *F/A/implied S*

Sitting around their usual tables in the Bulkhead listening to the others ramble off the overly romantic and grand gestures done for Valentine's Day. The money wasted on cheesiness just because their loved one expected it. The typical lingerie and chocolate-covered strawberries. The candlelight and Barry White.

"What about you Y/n? Did you and the mystery man do something special?" Stella was curious, hoping to finally find out who the unknown fella was that took up so much of her off time.

"Um... not really," slightly embarrassed but not really. Grand gestures and stereotypical commercial nonsense weren't really her thing. It was damned sure not his either.

"Why not?" Davis chimed in nudging her shoulder playfully.

"Just another day really, not a big deal." Y/n shrugged sipping her beer.

"You tellin' me you're the one woman on the planet that doesn't go gah gah for all that mushy stuff?" Sonny never failed at being annoying or the forever skeptic of love and romance.

"My exes kinda ruined it," playing with the label on her beer bottle knowing a certain set of eyes were locked on her actions. "As if dinner at some fancy place I never wanted to go to in the first place automatically meant I was putting out. Don't get me wrong, I'll never turn down flowers but if you only go all out one day a year then you've got problems."

"Cynic," Clay laughed tossing a napkin at her face.

"I'm serious," she kept going, stealing glances at Metal. "If I don't warrant the attention that ranges from an ass slap or a kiss every day of the year then leave me alone. Valentine's Day is over-commercialized and forgets that love doesn't fit in some picture-perfectly worded sappy Hallmark card."

"What's your version then?" Stella smiled softly leaning into Clay.

"It's messy and hard work but it's endless. We don't have to do the same shit all the time cuz we're two separate people. No judgment for our pasts, taking it day by day and making it the best we can cuz tomorrow's not promised. So if we'd rather spend the day laying in front of the TV with takeout so be it."

Her eyes crinkled as she smiled sighing into her beer. Images of all the nights she'd spent exactly like that with him. Laid atop him on the couch, head buried in his chest, caged in his arms while a football game played on the TV completely ignored. The gentle kisses he placed on her head, fingers running through her hair.

No need for long-winded trivial conversations, just content in the moment; in the sound of her breath. They seemed to be the only two people on Earth that could have a silent conversation, to speak volumes in silence. They spoke with each other in looks and actions, but in those rare moments words were used he did so using the words of the world's greatest poets. Telling her how much he loved her, wanted her, and needed her with the vocabulary of men that stretched across centuries.

"So that's what you did?" Sonny scoffed flicking his toothpick between his lips. "Boring."

"No," her face flushed biting her lip. "We went hiking in the mountains, grilled out some massive steaks, drank some 32-year-old Scotch, and..." sipping her beer trying not to expose their secret. "Extensive cardio in front of the fireplace but that's kind of a weekly thing anyway."

"She wins!" Stella chuckled.

Conversations changed amongst the others now that the competitiveness was done and over. Metal's hand settled on her thigh underneath the table. Heavy hot pressure from his palm, his thumb rubbing lovingly back and forth. Smiling to herself as she caught the quick wink he sent her way as he knocked back and finished his beer. His fingers tapped her leg three times, a signal for the two of them to 'head out' for the night.

"Wait a second," Brock swiveled his head to the side peering suspiciously at Metal and then Trent. "Didn't Metal say he went hiking recently? Thought he hated that shit?"

It was as if the group think mentality suddenly synced. All eyes stared at a stoic stone-faced Metal while Y/n would only stare at her beer bottle.

"He mentioned something about some pricy gift of Scotch too. 'Best shit he ever had' I think is what he said." Trent smirked seeing the edge of Metal's eye twitch.

"Holy shit!" Sonny sat up straight. "He!? And her?! I'll be damned."