Chapter Text
It was always a rule that whenever three or more of them were sleeping in the same bed, Rudy had to be on the outside. This was an unliked rule, but a rule that he found essential.
Being Colonel Vargas’ second-in-command meant he had a lot of responsibility, sometimes even more than the Colonel himself. Rudy always volunteered to do the boring ass paperwork, talk to the recruits about any issues, and basically make sure his vaqueros were all healthy and funded.
Colonel Vargas also has the privilege of setting a strict time in which he will not respond to messages for him unless absolutely necessary. Most of the time, whatever was happening during these hours was not absolutely necessary. Meaning, Sergeant Major Parra was the next best thing, who was expected availability was 24/7.
Most of the time, Captain Price, Lieutenant Riley, Sergeant Garrick, and Sergeant MacTavish visited them on their synced up leaves, meaning absolutely no one was to disturb any of them unless the world was ending. Vargas and Parra often tried to also take leave at the same time, but remain on base.
On base is a loose term for it, because it really just meant Rudy’s apartment that was a 5 minute drive from base. Alejandro’s ranch was deemed “too far for Rudy’s liking” for when neither were on actual leave, so Rudy’s apartment was the next best thing. Every vaquero knew about this apartment should they need Sergeant Major Parra in an emergency.
The apartment was cozy, but not cramped. And he bought a giant fucking king sized bed for when all six of them wanted to sleep in a big, messy pile of limbs at night.
The first time they were all rudely interrupted in the night was when a recruit had learned about something tragic, and could not get himself to calm down by any means. So naturally, his friend threw him in a car, and drove up to Sergeant Major Parra’s apartment.
Rudy was kind of like a mom, or a father, or a brother, or whatever the hell kind figure they were missing to the vaqueros. They all knew to go to him for things like this, and just really anything. While Colonel Vargas was cool and scary (and sexy), there was something about Sergeant Major Parra that just made him easier to talk to about emotional problems.
Tonight, Soap had gotten the luxury of cuddling Rudy. He had his head on his chest and their legs were tangled, with his back warmly pressed to who he thinks is Alejandro, but might be Price. Rudy, conveniently, the lightest sleeper of them all immediately woke up when he heard three knocks on the door and a shy “Parra?” From the hall.
Rudy had to slowly but surely detangle himself from Soap, with the hopes of not waking him, which failed. The minute Soap’s head wasn’t on his chest anymore the Scotsman whined, “Rudyyyy…” To which is was shushed and told “un minuto,”
Soap huffed and turned over to be the big spoon to Price, which was a little funny to look at considering the height difference. When the Captain responded with a grunt and his hand going over Soap’s, he just said “Rudy left me.” In the sleepiest voice imaginable.
When Rudy came back, he chucked to himself and took a picture of his boys before climbing under the covers and resting his head in between Soap’s shoulder blades.