DECEPTION. ("Soap" MacTavish x Reader.)

chapter twenty-two.

"Easy, you don't want to strain yourself," MacTavish cautioned, slowly moving his hands down as he watched her build herself up and try again, but this time she forced herself through the pain. "Good- you're doing very good. How do you feel?"

Veil nodded her head in response, the pain not vanishing but she definitely could get used to it. "I feel ok. So you actually do know how to coach me through this, right?"

Johns's eyes shifted to the wall as he nodded. "Yep, you'd be surprised by how many soldiers need the same kind of help. I've been through it, Gaz has, and even Ghost." He met her eyes again, happy to notice his words comforted her as she relaxed her shoulders. 

Why was it so relieving to hear Ghost has been immobile like this? It was because the man can get his hand sliced off and say it was a scratch while wrestling a bear. What's funny though was how he could do all of that but then get mad at his tea being made wrong.

"Alright... thank you."

---

An hour passed by and Y/n was able to walk with a heavy limp, but she was at least moving without assistance. She had lapped around the gym with Soap numerous times, sat down and moved her legs in a riding-a-bike-like pattern, taking barely any breaks, but now she had to do squats which she dreaded.

Soap grabbed little weights off a shelf.

"So, first things first. I'm gonna hand you these and you're gonna have to set them down on the ground, stand up, then crouch down and get them again- this is gonna repeat until you've hit your tenth time," He coached as he did the actions for an example, looking up from the mini weights to her face for her reaction. 

She was tired, her dead eyes removed from his, "Can't we just do this later?"

Soap brought his hands down from an offering position with the weights, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, you can do this later, I have to do my job once we're in Canada. I think it'd be best if you learn the exercises now and know what to do when I'm gone."

True. Y/n sighed and then held out her hands, the green rubbered weights placed in her palms. She did what he had shown her, the process feeling a bit easy and pathetic. Well, supposedly it wasn't meant to be that easy for her as Soap spoke. 

"Your postures wrong."

"What do you mean? I'm doing what you showed me."

Soap shook his head, "You aren't supposed to be bending your back to get them, it's all about using your legs," Soap motioned towards her back as he spoke, returning his hand back to the crossed-armed position he had them in. "Here," Dropping his arms, he began to walk behind her, "Can I put my hand on your back?" He didn't want her uncomfortable.

Y/n sighed, knowing she was so close to being done. "Go for it," There was no enthusiasm in her tone, not even questioning his thought process.

"We can be done if you'd like."

She cleared her throat, "No. Sorry for being so immature, I really do like your help. Go on." After she said that, his warm and rough hand gently touched her back, his palm flat against her skin.

MacTavish swallowed but hid his nervousness, not wanting to make any small movements to make her squeamish. 

"So now get down and grab the weights once more."

Veil did as instructed, feeling his hand push down on her spine in an attempt to help her straighten, his palm removing contact when she got lower.

"See how your back is arched when you do that? You need to straighten yourself and squat down. You're going halfway with your legs then the rest with your back to get the weights." 

She did the same action after his comment, not even replying, trying her best to use her legs but her brain made her back do most of the work. She didn't think it was that obvious, but clearly it was by how Soap exhaled through his nose.

The exhale wasn't from annoyance though, it was to steady his mind from how low her head got next to his body. "Alright... doesn't your back hurt from how much you're bending it?"

"It hurts bad," Y/n grumbled, glaring at the floor. She wasn't mad at him, just the pain was beginning to alter her mood. An idea popped into her head. "Actually, remember that time you gave my hand a massage?"

"Yeah...?" Soap could never read her mind, but this seemed directed.

Y/n straightened her posture, glancing over her shoulder. "If it doesn't weird you out, can you do that to my back?"

"Massage it?"

"Please."

MacTavish was blown away by her bravery, wondering how she got so comfortable. Then again, the doctor did prescribe her some wonky medicines before her workout so she could get the process over with more quicker. "You sure?"

"John, its not that serious."

Soap realized that was true, just it felt like a serious thing to him because his hands would be on her. 

He still agreed, moving to position. He had both palms on the sides of her back, using his thumbs to deeply massage into the tissue he felt was taunt. This seemed easy, but in reality, he felt an uncomfortable feeling in himself. All his brain could do was flashback to her moist skin from the shower that one day and how she was practically naked in his bed. Or when they cuddled and how she subconsciously shifted herself against him in an unsayable way when she was asleep.

"Yeah... it's really sore here... and here, actually," Soap commented, his hands moving lower with each spot he said. "Right here too," Lower...

Gaz walked in with a water bottle in hand, pausing at the doorway. From his angle, all he could see was Y/n's eyes closed and head leaned forward as Soap was behind her mumbling something, his hands on her. Gaz made himself known by "accidentally" kicking a dumbell, which made a loud noise in the action. Soap and Y/n jumped, looking over to him and moving away from each other. 

"The gym is public work out area, guys. Go somewhere private to have that kind of workout. Please."