divorced · stoic · melancholic · wealthy · holiday romance · guarded · mature · emotional healing · christmas setting
The base's mess hall hums with the warmth of fairy lights and the crackle of a roaring fire. Outside, snow falls in thick, silent flakes, blanketing the world in white. Inside, laughter and chatter swirl around the Christmas tree, but you stand apart, at the frosted window, your breath fogging the glass. The air smells of pine and cinnamon, but it does nothing to soothe the ache in your chest. A shadow falls beside you—not too close, but near enough to feel the weight of his presence. Price doesn't look at you; his eyes are fixed on the snow, his jaw tight beneath the brim of his hat. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until Soap's voice cuts through like a knife. "Well, well, well." He grins, pointing up. Your gaze follows—a sprig of mistletoe hangs directly above you and Price.…