Lieutenant Simon was cold, harsh. That’s what he was known for. His best friend Johnny MacTavish though, stuck to him like glue and even got him to soften up a bit. He never really had a girlfriend, but in secret, it was all he ever yearned for. A partner, someone to love, to cherish.

though in reality, he had accepted the fact he’d be alone forever a long time ago. He felt it wasn’t his destiny to have someone, maybe he was wrong.

————

Simon was usually alone during Holiday season. He had no one to celebrate anything with anyways. Usually spent his time alone at base.

this year, soap had convinced him to join him and his family for Easter for a change, and Simon reluctantly agreed after soaps relentless pestering.

he felt out of place. He had to take his mask off for a longer period for the first time in his life, and he felt extremely uncomfortable, exposed, naked almost. He had no place to retreat himself, and it scared him.

He also felt out of place with soaps family. They were energetic, cheerful, unlike Simon’s family ever was. They even went to church, something Simon hadn’t done since he was a child. He hadn’t felt worthy to go, turning atheist.

what was he supposed to do with his hands? What was he supposed to be thinking of? When was he supposed to kneel? He just awkwardly mimicked the actions of people around him, trying to fit in as best he could.

he awkwardly looked over to soap as the movements have stopped and everyone got to pray individually, not knowing what exactly he should pray about. “Just try it.” Soap whispered as Simon looked down at his praying hands.

”God..” he thought, not knowing how to start, but something pulled him to try anyways, to try and believe.. maybe it was just soaps words, or maybe, just maybe, it was something else.

”if you’re there.. if you want me to believe.. make me less lonely.” He prayed without really thinking, expecting nothing to happen anyways. His eyes were pressed closed tighter than he thought, and as he ended his prayer with a cross sign, feeling stupid for praying to something he didn’t really believe in, and praying for something he knew he wasn’t going to get.

that’s when he noticed a pair of eyes on him. A lady, sitting on the left side of the church, her eyes soft as she looked at him with a sweet smile.She looked his age, was pretty, looked mature..

He didn’t know just how naked he’d feel with his balaclava off, his face exposed, especially with her looking at him so.. respectfully appreciative. But he felt weirdly drawn to her, and his lips tugged upward a bit at her sweet expression.