in the quiet loop. (solid snake x reader)

05 - loose ends

You followed, covering him with your M9 as he worked. Snake trailed a few feet behind and peeled away toward the small weapons locker adjacent to the helipad's equipment tower. He scanned the contents quickly before grabbing a shoulder rig and hoisting a crate of stinger missiles into his arms.

Hal cursed under his breath as he bypassed a firewall. "Almost there. Keep watch."

The helipad felt too exposed. There were no gunfire and enemies, just wind and pressure and the sick anticipation of what came next. You scanned the perimeter, your eyes fitting from the service crane to the ocean's distant shimmer. Snake took up position near the Kasatka's flank, eyes narrowed behind his bandana.

Hal climbed into the pilot's seat, powering the system on as the cockpit lights flickered to life. You helped Snake into the back and climbed in beside him, closing the side hatch with a hard click just as the whir of the Kasatka's rotors grew louder, slicing through the salt-wet air above the helipad.

Snake immediately brought a hand to his ear, activating his codec. You could hear the faint, static-laced transmission as he called in.

"Raiden, I found us a ride," Snake said. "One of the enemy's Kasatkas."

Raiden's voice crackled back through the channel. "Is it in good shape?"

"Full tank. I'm heading for Shell 1 now," Snake muttered into the codec. "What about that Harrier?"

"It's not on the heliport here."

"Good. I'll set this one down there then."

"Understood," Raiden replied. Then he added, almost hesitantly. "Pliskin, there are hostages in Shell 1. There's a few short of thirty. One dead, and several wounded."

Snake's jaw tightened. He looked back at you, then at the limited space inside the chopper. "The Kasatka's cargo area will hold thirteen max."

"Can you fly a Kasatka?"

Snake looked out the open deck, then to Hal, who was adjusting the main control panel up front. "I have a pilot who's flown the civilian model, the KA-62, in VR. There's not a whole lot of difference between the military KA-60 and the civilian model."

Hal looked over his shoulder and gave a lopsided grin. "Cleared for takeoff."

Snake glanced at Hal, who was now strapping himself into the pilot's seat, and then toward you, meeting your gaze for a brief but pointed beat. "Raiden, let me introduce to my team. Otacon and Y/N."

Hal spoke up. "Hey, Raiden. Nice to meet you."

You cleared your throat before speaking. "Hey. It's Y/N."

The words had barely left your mouth when the metallic screech of a sliding door opened behind you. You turned, seeing a squad of Gurlukovich mercenaries storm the helipad from the side gantry, weapons raised. Their M4s and sidearms are in a close-range ready.

"Get down!" Snake shouted as he lunged instinctively to draw his weapon, but you were faster. In a split second, your hand darted to his side and pulled a pistol from the holster clipped just inside his vest. Your fingers wrapped around the weight of the SOCOM .45.

Before the first mercenary could take aim, you fired. Snake rose from the barrel as more them charged, shouting orders in Russian, their figures slicing through the sunlight like shadows with steel. You rolled low across the floor, coming up just behind Snake and taking aim again. The recoil was sharp, but your grip was steady.

Snake moved to cover you, his rifle in hand, but it was clear you were already holding your ground. The last mercenary fell with a pained grunt, the echo of gunfire finally fading into the wind. Breathing hard, you stood back upright, handing the still-warm pistol back to Snake without a word. His fingers closed over it slowly, gaze lingering on you again, but he said nothing.