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✧ ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ - ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ✧"
Kyle leaned against the wall of the debrief room. The Task Force had just gotten back from a shitty mission that didn't go as planned. The intel had been wrong, and they got compromise, well, Gaz got compromised. He had been the one in the building, it was supposed to be a quick kill and go. Instead, it had taken 5 hours and a lot more casualties happened than wanted.
It felt like everything was too loud, the sound of Soap bouncing his leg was grating. His heart could feel his heart beating fast and he could hear it in his ears. Kyle couldn't focus on the others talking.
His left arm hurt badly. He had taken a rough fall and it was stomped on when he was getting his ass beat. Not to mention continuing to use it for the entire rest of the mission. Kyle hoped his arm wasn't broken, he'd have to be out of the field for at least a month. Gaz's breath was quick but not noticeable. He drummed his fingers on his thighs. The feeling of them hitting him was too much, but he couldn't make himself stop. He stared blankly at the floor.
"Gaz?"
Kyle didn't respond.
"Kyle." A hand waved in front of his face… Price's hand. Kyle's head snapped up, his eyes a bit wide. He was breathing fast, too fast. His fingers dug into his thighs, trying to ground himself. Kyle realized that the room was empty… When did the others leave?
"You there, Sergeant?" Price asked, his hand coming to rest upon Gaz's shoulder. He looked concerned, almost pitying. The physical contact was just too much. Kyle couldn't make himself speak. He nodded weakly.
"Are you alright?" The man asked, his hand slid down to Kyle's forearms, pulling them away from his thighs. Kyle didn't realize how hard he had been digging his tails into his thighs.
Kyle nodded. He had to be alright… He had to be.
Price sighed and shook his head. The Captain didn't believe Gaz. "Kyle, don't lie to me," Price refused to let go of Kyle's arms. "Are you ok?" Kyle nodded again. He was fine. Price grip tightened on Kyle's forearms. Gaz flinched as Price squeezed his left arm, the one that hurt. Price's hands quickly moved to Gaz's shoulders. Kyle's chest heaved.
I'm fine. I'm fine. Stop panicking over nothing.
The room spun around Kyle, making him dizzy. Kyle felt like he couldn't breathe.
He needed- he needed to- He was crying.
"Hey, hey... Kyle... What's wrong?" Price asked softly, hand squeezing Kyle's shoulder. "Is it the Op?"
Kyle nodded, before he knew it he was sobbing. It was all too much. He didn't understand, he had never gotten this upset over a messed up Op. He couldn't breathe. Kyle felt Price pull him into his arms, letting Kyle hide his face in his chest.
"I'm sorry..." Kyle mumbled through tears. He hiccupped.
"Shhh... You have nothing to apologize for, your just overwhelmed," Price said softly, rubbing Kyle's back. He pulled Kyle over to a chair, having him sit down. Price knelt down beside him. "And that's ok. Everyone reaches their breaking point eventually."
"Breathe for me, yea? In for four, out for four." Price urged Kyle to breathe with him. Kyle took a breath of air, then breathed it out. After a few minutes, Kyle was calmer, but still shaken and overwhelmed. "How do you feel now? Better?"
Kyle nodded, he held his hurt arm in his lap. It was very painful. He felt Price gently run his hand along his arm. He mumbled a 'sorry' as Kyle winced.
"Is your arm hurt?" He asked. Kyle nodded.
"Let's get that checked out by a medic, alright? I'll stay with you," Price stood up, he offered a hand to Kyle. Kyle took his hand, leaning into his arm for a few before letting go. Kyle followed Price to the infirmary.
✧ ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ - ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ✧"
As it turns out Kyle did, in fact, have a broken left arm. He still felt overwhelmed, even though it had been over an hour after he had had his moment. The cast on his arm was uncomfortable, it was tight and felt clunky. He sulked as he followed Price out of the infirmary.
"I know you're not going to be happy with this," Price began, he gently took Kyle's right hand, walking him towards his private quarters. "But, you're going to have to be off the field as this heals. I don't want to risk you worsening the break. I know it's not ideal, but it's not up for negotiation."
Kyle sighed, then nodded reluctantly. The two stopped in front of a door. Kyle was in an area he had never been in before. Price reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring that had a bunch of rings on it. Kyle watched as Price found the key he needed, then unlocked the door.
Price led Kyle inside the room. Kyle looked around. He realized that it was Price's private quarters. He had never been inside the Captain's room before.
"Go sit down on the bed, please," Kyle nodded, he gingerly walked over to the bed and sat down.
"I'll be right back," Price said, walking back towards the door, then disappearing into the hallway.
✧ ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ - ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ✧"
Kyle's face was now pressed into Price's shoulder, laying half on top of him. Kyle was wearing a jumper of Price's. It was slightly too big on Kyle. Price was gently rubbing Kyle's back.
"How do you feel?" Price queried, yawning quietly. Kyle shrugged, then pressed closer into Price. The man chuckled.
"I'll take that as you feel better."
Kyle smiled gently. He was tired.
"You did great today, I know the Op went to shit, but you still did good." Price said softly, he pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of Kyle's mouth, earning himself a small laugh.
Price leaned down to press another one when Gaz hesitantly met Price's lips instead. Price smiled and kissed Kyle. It was soft and sweet. Comforting. Gaz relaxed against Price. Gaz's face was dusted with blush.