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The air was chilly, almost as if frost had covered it, too. The rain didn’t stop, but only now it snow was added into the mix. And the god-forsaken iced pavements she has fallen down numerous times now.
Autumn’s transition into winter was her least favorite time of year. One, that even her romantic self could not glamourize. The already-fallen leaves turned into small ice chunks, her breath visible, fogging up her glasses if she bothered to wear them — suffice to say, she wasn’t a fan.
Usually, at this time of the year, she was bunched in some sweaty bunker, with even sweatier comrades. Away on a mission where even she could not pinpoint the exact location. She used to despise those times, too. With warmth creeping into every crevice, every pore it could find, she sometimes felt suffocated. And yet now, all Mallory would do is come back to those times.
As she, once again, stepped on the pavement outside of her room, her hesitance was probably obvious from an outside perspective. She slowly put her foot down, testing the (frozen) waters, and then put down another. The next step was to splay out her arms, balancing herself. She looked ridiculous, Mallory was well aware, but that did not stop her from further embarrassing herself.
Her team was either already in the rec room or on their way to it— she really hoped it was the former. Seeing her in such a position wasn’t going to make her gain any respect, quite the opposite — seeing a sergeant be afraid of slipping and looking like a peacock at the same time was a comical sight to behold.
“A little bit of salt or maybe even sand would help you with your problem, Loch,” A booming and strong voice remarked from her right side, following footsteps right up to her. She didn’t need to look up who it was, his voice was unmistakable. Captain John Price stood in front of her, his arms crossed with an amused expression on his face. Although it was minimal, she could still see the slight upturn in the corners of his lips.
“You all used salt for your doorsteps, Captain, and the sand is also covered in ice,” she snarled, her expression turning even more sour.
“Now, that’s no way to talk to your captain, is it?” His smirk didn’t stop, no, it widened into an actual smile, “here, let me help.”
As he offered his arms to hold onto, she shook her head.
“I can do it myself,” Mallory responded, back to looking down at her feet. “Besides, aren’t you on ice now, too?”
He raised his eyebrow, “My balance is better than yours,” his arms still in front of you. “Just hold onto me.”
“No.”
“Come on,” he sighed, “I’ve seen you fall on your ass for the past three days. It’s almost remarkable, your lack of stability.”
She snorted at that. Yeah, right. “I can do it myself, now go.”
He didn’t relent, still standing in front of her, making her try to go around him — it was trickier with the slight hill and ice, but she somehow got to his right side with no issues, although with a lot of back and forth rocking.
The man stood still, watching her like a zoo animal — entertained with slight caution as she walked closer to him.
The problem arose when her balance slipped as she almost passed him, a rock underneath the ice made her leg stuck for a second. But it was too late now — as she put her foot too high, making her other ankle twist under the sudden pressure she put on it, grabbing whatever was closest.
And the closest thing was Price’s neck, she presumed. Unwittingly, she put both of her hands around his neck, putting him in a strange headlock and letting both of them fall on the ice. Her on her ass (again) and him on his back. He let out a strangled noise right before the fall, bewilderment and hurt probably coating his features.
Although her shoulder pillowed his head in the fall, she couldn’t say the same for his back. Feeling dizzy, Mallory didn’t bother standing up to quickly, preferring to keep laying down.
“Fuck,” she said, matter-of-factly, opening her mouth to bring in more oxygen into her lungs, as she felt all of it got punched out of them when she fell. Everything felt lighter, as if she was on a cloud, her limbs lighter, her mind empty.
She was thrown out of her deliriousness as she heard a groan behind her. Right, her captain who she pulled down with her.
Her cheeks reddened immediately, the summoning itself up to the surface, an apology being the first thing on her tongue.
“I am so sorry, fuck, I didn’t think,” she said, her words a little bit slurred.
“Figured, love,” he muttered, sitting up. He didn’t look as if he felt as bad as she did. Mallory checked him over quickly — his posture was stiff but that was usual and his grim expression was probably from her inadequacy at staying stable rather than any pain.
Mentioning pain, she suddenly felt a throbbing ache in her ankle, the one she fell on. Shit, it was probably sprained.
Price seemed to spot it, too. His grumpy expression turned into a glare, not at her but a part of her, she supposed. “We need to get to the infirmary. Now.”
The order in his tone could not be mistaken for anything else, she nodded, trying to stand up but instead ended up hissing in pain. “Fuck,” she said, again.
“Right before leave, great,” he muttered, “Come on, ‘m gonna help ya up.”
She felt his arms underneath her armpits, pulling her up like a child, and then slinging her arm around his shoulders.
“You aren’t broken, captain?” Mallory asked, worry painting her features, she forgot to even ask about his well-being, but he looked alright before, right? She hoped he wasn’t in any pain.
They were about to go on leave. Two more days of formalities and they were free for a month.
“Not broken, although, I think a migraine is imminent, ‘s all.”
“Not my fault you didn’t want to — fucking hell — move away from me,” she grunted, her own annoying flaring up. It wasn’t her fault that her captain was as stubborn as an ox, nor was it her mission to make him any less so.
“D’you hear me complaining?” He asked.
“No, but your insinuations are telling me enough,” she muttered.
“What was that?” He said, and she was sure he heard her the first time.
“Nothing,” she said, not playing into his game.
As they came up to the infirmary’s doorstep she saw it fully empty, save for the her assistant Anne, who opened the door as she saw the two of them.
“What happened?” she asked worriedly, helping her be put on one of the beds.
“Someone didn’t want to move—”
“She fell on the ice again—”
They both said at the same time making poor Anne’s expression even more worried. She looked both of them over and swallowed nervously.
“Alright,” she said, as she started pulling bandages and painkillers out of a cabinet. “Which one do you want doc?”
“Nothing too strong. Also, give him one too. He also fell,” Mallory answered, making sure she heard her last sentence loud and clear, simultaneously being gifted Price’s trademark glare.
“I’m fine,” was his response.
“Doctor’s orders,” she shot back, earning herself another glare. “This is my jurisdiction,” you smirked, making circles with your left hand.
Anne quickly gave both of them a painkiller, her hands shaking a bit as she reached out to Price, her eyes back on Mallory’s ankle — she snorted at her assistant. She only wished the younger medic would see how comical this scary captain looked splayed out on the ice alongside her, maybe then her fear of him would falter.
“Eat up,” Mallory cheekily said to Price, swallowing her own pill. “This is the good stuff.”
He swallowed his one, although reluctantly. “For a person who just sprained her ankle in a very ridiculous fashion, I’m surprised your sense of humor wasn’t bruised.”
“My ego maybe,” she replied, smirking. “At least this time I had company.”
Price raised an eyebrow, “Now you’ll have company in that flat of yours.”
“What do you mean?” She asked, her eyebrows furrowing.
“You can’t be trusted in this weather on your own, the ice proved that,” he responded quickly, crossing his arms over his chest.
“What are you implying?” Mallory asked slowly, dreading what he came up with this time.
“That I’m staying with you,” he said, smirking. “Hope you have a comfortable couch.”
The only thing she could do was widen her eyes in shock.
What?