Chapter Text
3:15 am, thoughts and adrenaline flowing in your mind. You were tucked in your bed, staring intently at the blank ceiling imagining all sorts of things, all the inevitable ways you were going to fuck up the mission. This time thought, it wasn’t a regular training, with your regular protected areas and your regular friends who would reassure you.
This time, you had to prove to the higher-ranking soldiers, commanders and whatnot, that you were worthy of serving, and especially worthy of staying.
This training mission allowed to select the best soldiers among the new recruits, and by now, four groups have passed this test.
4:45.
“Am I going to pass? I can’t afford to go home…I trained so much for this… What if I suck ass? I didn’t give a great performance recently though… They might kick me out…”
You were good in lots of things, you just undermined yourself. Great aim (weakened by the pressure), a remarkable physical strength and endurance. Overall, you just needed to be a bit more agile and believe in your capacities.
“Yeah, that’ s easy to say …Let me shut my eyes for a bit … I need to rest”
The general alarm went off, waking everybody. But you were already awake and more tired than before.
Once ready, you joined your squad.
"Soldiers, listen up. Today’s training exercise is all about hostage rescue. We’ll be putting you through a scenario where our colleague and your superior, Barrage, will act as the hostage, while we will play the role of the terrorists. Your objective is to navigate through our defenses and successfully rescue him. Make sure you’re in full tactical gear and ready for action. This exercise is designed to push your limits and gauge your readiness. So give it your all, stay sharp, and let’s see what you’re made of!" Lieutenant Ghost explained.
“Ugh the Lieutenant is so sexy …” you thought, half-listening.
“Ok, so there 20 of us … they are 5 … well 4 excluding Barrage … Oh I have never seen him … he has Ghost vibes grrr. I maybe should’ve masturbated before setting foot in here… as I was thinking … I hope they will go easy on us, they must though, right?”
“We will not go easy on you.” Ghost asserted.
“Ok thanks for shattering my dreams…”
"Whoever rescues the hostage first will join our training sessions moving forward. To identify the top performers among you, we will review the footage and assess your skills during our encounters with you." Captain Price added.
Everyone was ready by 8 am to be escorted to another location. It looked like a forest facade, a meticulously crafted imitation designed for training purposes. The trees were arranged imperfectly, their leaves unnaturally symmetrical, and the overall ambiance felt more like a staged backdrop than a genuine woodland. Still it looked spooky.
Upon arrival, each team armed themselves with paintball rifles, affixing numbers to the left side of their chests. You found yourself labelled as number 16.
A loud alarm shattered the tranquil facade, marking the commencement of the training.
The plan was to stay alive and avoid your superiors.
“Again, that’s easier said than done”
In the initial 20 minutes, the game unfolded rapidly, and ten soldiers from your team were swiftly disqualified. Five of them fell victim to the elusive Lieutenant Ghost, embodying the shadowy art of stealth and strategy.
You decided to climb up a fake tree to get a better view and find the hostage.
“These fake trees were made for us to be climbed up, huh? Look at all these hand and foot placements,” you muttered to yourself, noting the strategically placed grips.
Another skill on your soldier CV was indeed climbing. You moved with practiced ease, your hands and feet finding their marks effortlessly as you scaled the tree. From your elevated vantage point, you scanned the area below for any sign of the hostage.
The training grounds were filled with the sounds of other soldiers navigating their own obstacles, but you focused solely on your objective. Your heart raced with the thrill of the challenge and the pressure of the mission. Every muscle was tense and alert, ready to respond at a moment's notice.
As you reached the top, you spotted the mock hostage tied to a chair in the distance. With a quick assessment of the surroundings, you formulated a plan. You could see the positions of your mock enemies and the best approach to reach the hostage without drawing too much attention.
Since your superiors didn’t change their gear, they were a bit easier to spot. Luckily you brought your personal binoculars. They were in the middle of the field, meaning they passed by the tree you were stationed on.
You could do this.
Your mind raced through all the possible scenarios, but the excitement and determination pushed you forward. You carefully descended the tree, making sure not to make a sound.
“Alright, time to put this training to the test,” you said under your breath, ready to prove yourself.
As you approached the hostage area, you could see Barrage relaxing. He wasn’t even trying to make the situation more believable.
That vision alone made you giggle about the questionable seriousness of this character.
When you entered the hostage zone, you realized that you didn’t know what to say to approach a hostage. Everything coming to your mind sounded too cringe.
Hi I’m here to save you – “Ugh no, he’s like 6’ something, you won’t be taken seriously”
Hi, are you hurt? – “If he were a hostage he would be hurt, so duh”
Good morning, I’m y/n – “Goddammit, good morning???”
While finding the best sentence to start the conversation and not to lose credibility, you were marching towards him. So, by the time you arrived, you still had nothing prepared.
“Good morning, Are you hurt? I’m here to save you” you managed to say.
“what. the fuck. was that.” You screamed internally.
Barrage was staring at you. At least, that’s what you thought since his face was turned towards you, hidden by a mask and he had tactical sunglasses.
“fuck … UH sorry sir … Uh … Sir I need to get you out of here. Please follow me” you said as proudly as possible to redeem yourself.
Barrage just laughed wholeheartedly at your face. “Ok, thanks for saving me” he spoke, with an amused tone.
He had a steady voice. A calm and decisive one. Just like a high-ranking soldier should have.
He stood up, effectively towering over you.
“Great ! follow me, we need to go to the already established zone” you said, already speeding and calculating which way was the best one.
“Ouch, I’m my leg is hurt” Barrage complained, faking the injury.
“What?” you turned around confused.
“My leg is hurt” he repeated, tilting his head. “you need to help me walk” he added, positioning his arm around your shoulder to look for a support. As expected, but not that much, his weight shifted you to the front. You realized that this guy was going to make the mission impossible now.
“You are not hurt, you were sitting on your chair” you spoke, forgetting your rank.
“Are you questioning the health of a hostage, number 16?” he said, amused by the situation.
“I .. Ugh … - now you had to follow his stupid scenario- No, I’m not questioning you. You can lean on me” you said. “But don’t lean too much, you are heavy” you added, whispering.
With this guy on your body, every goddamn movement felt like a punishment.
You pulled out a hand-drawn map from your pocket of the field. Sometimes being an overthinker can be a great asset.
“Wow did you draw that thing yourself?” he asked, poking his head to the side to look.
“Yep. I drew it when I was on that tall tree” you confirmed, eyes fixed on the map.
“We need to come –” A sudden rustling of leaves caught your attention.
You urgently whispered, “Someone’s here… Come on, we need to hide,” trying to pull Barrage into a safer spot. He briefly paused his acting to quicken his pace, making it easier for you to keep moving.
“Fuck they are close!” you hissed, your composure slipping. Adrenaline and anxiety swirled together, a volatile mix that any soldier would struggle to manage.
You swiftly scanned your surroundings as events unfolded at lightning speed. Out of nowhere, a sharp gunshot echoed through the air, and you were violently thrust to the ground. Instinctively, you squeezed your eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
As Barrage’s muscled body pressed against you, you felt a powerful shield enveloping you. His strong, solid frame was a reassuring weight. His arms, firm and unyielding, provided a protective cocoon, their strength palpable through the fabric. Your hands rested on his torso, feeling the hard contours of his muscles beneath your fingertips. His warmth contrasted with the cold ground, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat was a calming force. His solid, protective embrace offered a brief but intense sense of security.
He pressed a hand gently over your mouth, his breath warm and steady against your ear. “Breathe through your nose,” he murmured urgently, “stay calm, don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
As you laid there, the sound of your rapid breaths mingling with Barrage’s steady ones, you could hear the distant chatter of the enemy growing fainter. His weight was a reassuring presence, and his calm demeanour helped you focus despite the pounding of adrenaline in your veins.
You slowly let the tension drain from your muscles, allowing yourself to sink into the moment of respite. The gunshot had shattered the relative calm, but Barrage’s protective stance provided a sliver of comfort in the chaos. You could feel his body rise slightly as he assessed the situation, his hand still firmly covering your mouth.
After a tense few moments, Barrage lifted his head slightly, peering over your hiding spot. “They’re moving away,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble against your ear.
He gently lifted himself off you, allowing you to sit up. His eyes met yours, filled with a mixture of relief and determination. “Let’s move. We need to find a safer position and complete the mission.”
You took a deep breath, steadying yourself, and followed his lead, every sense heightened and alert.
“Thank you so much” you whispered, felling gratitude towards him.
“But uh … I think I was supposed to protect you” you added, laughing embarrassed about the whole quite intimate situation.
“Oh yeah that’s right” he said, leaning back on you and resuming with his fake limping.
“Ugh” – escaped from your mouth, trying to support his weight – “I didn’t mind your autonomy …” you muttered, chuckling.
“Sometimes I forget myself” he said. Although you couldn’t see his face due to his mask, you knew he had a sheepish smile. You could see his cheeks stretch the mask.
“I didn’t know hostages were supposed to help their hero” you said.
“I didn't know that either, I guess you are not a hero material” he said, jokingly.
You couldn’t think of an answer that wouldn’t be “fuck off”, all you could do was give him one of your scornful looks.
“It’s ok princess, it’s the gesture that counts” he said, tenderly laughing, tilting his head to meet your gaze.
“You sure have a great sense of humour for someone who’s leg is hurting. I think I might hurt you for real” you said, while facing elsewhere to avoid his face at any cost.
You were blushing furiously, overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation.
First, his body pressed against yours, his firm muscles, the scent of his cologne, his rough hand covering your mouth, his soft whispers—all of it was almost too much to handle.
And now, calling you nicknames. You were certain that Barrage remained unaffected by these things, so you tried to convince yourself that his use of "princess" was nothing more than a casual term with no deeper meaning.
You were hoping though, that he meant it.
He did mean it but how could you know that. His face was covered entirely, and you had no mean to know how amused he was by all this.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, you finally spotted the safe zone up ahead. As you approached, a voice broke the silence.
“What’s your name, Number 16?” he dared to ask.
“You don’t deserve to know,” you replied coldly. “You didn’t behave well and you were a constant pain in the ass … I hope the next hostage isn’t like you.”
With that, you shrugged off his arm from around your shoulder and moved to pull the lever down, signalling that you had reached the safe zone and successfully rescued the hostage.
He lifted your chin with his finger, tilting your face up towards his. “It’s okay, princess,” he said confidently, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “Sooner or later, I’ll know.”
“Still, you did a great job, Number 16. Keep up the good work!” he encouraged, giving your shoulder a firmer pat than you anticipated.
“Wow, he’s really strong…” you thought, drifting into an overthinking phase as you watched him walk away.
Barrage didn’t expect the training session to turn out this way. There you were—hesitant, with ruffled hair, a messy ponytail, rosy cheeks, and doe eyes. Your heavy, exhausted breaths and slightly parted lips, along with your fumbled opening sentence, made you seem almost charming. Despite your disheveled appearance, he had to admit you had great potential.
He tried to remember if he had seen you or recognized you during training, but he couldn’t recall. “Good, so nobody will know her,” he thought, as he marched toward the exit of the training forest. But a thought nagged at him: “Damn it… now that she’s made it, she’ll get attention.” Barrage didn’t like that idea. Instinctively, he touched his chest, remembering the small pressure of your hands and the chill it sent through him.
“Great ugh” he scoffed. Now the suppressed boner, was growing again. “If I could bust one here, right where I was on top of her, I would’ve done it without hesitation” he thought. He was glad nobody could listen to his disgusting thoughts.