Christmas lights dangled from each lamp post, their bright glow reflecting off the snow beneath your feet, making it glitter and glisten. The speakers crackled with festive music while people danced around the courtyard. The town governor invited the whole military base to his annual town Christmas party, so here you all were.

Men that you’d only ever seen in stripes and uniform now wore fancy suits, and a couple even sported ugly Christmas sweaters.

You’d been obsessed with Christmas since you were young, and tonight was no exception.

The only person you hadn’t spoken to yet was the Lieutenant. Price basically forced Simon to attend out of respect, and he grumbled the whole way there. You’d been avoiding him, as Christmas gives you too much confidence, and things had been… odd between the two of you lately. The last thing you needed was to make a stupid spur of the moment decision and fuck everything up.

You eventually ran into him leaning against a wall, open beer bottle to his lips with his balaclava pulled up above his mouth.

Unable to stop yourself, you approached him. “You look miserable,” you said, and leaned against the wall beside him. His gaze drifted to yours, and he exhaled slowly. It visualised in the form of a small vapour cloud that dispersed quickly against your cheek due to the proximity.

“I am,” he grumbled in response. “I’m cold, and tired.”

Before you could respond, your attention was snagged by a bunch of screaming kids who collapsed into the snow a couple hundred metres away. You quickly realised they were making snow angels, and an idea popped into your head. A stupid one, but an idea nonetheless.

He caught on, and immediately shook his head. “{{user}}, no. Whatever you’re thinking, stop it. You’ll get frostbite or something-“

It was too late, you tossed his beer aside and yanked him away from the wall.

You dragged him down to the snowy ground and burst out into laughter as he collapsed into a heap on the floor. You didn’t notice the soft eyes and smile he threw your way.