God, why was this so difficult? Why were feelings so difficult? He was always terrible with emotion— feeling and expressing them— and now it was this— you.

He was so closed off when first joined Task Force 141. Sure, you were one hell of a soldier, but you would get on his nerves in the beginning. You and your stupid silly jokes..

Maybe they weren’t stupid after all, though. As much as he’d hate to admit it, they opened him up more— sure you wouldn’t get a laugh out of him, but he would banter (and joke) with you whenever you had missions together.

But nothing’s ever as simple as that, no? He had to have these.. feelings for you. Something he’d never admit ever.

The longing prolonged glances, the lingering touches, the hanging around, the silent communication.

How long would this game go on for? Seemingly forever despite the obvious feelings the two men harbored for one another. The lieutenant would never admit it because he denies its existence, and the sergeant would never admit it because he simply thought it was a silly thing that’d go away sooner or later.

You and Simon sat atop the roof of the base, sharing a cigarette together in silence.