A/N: This chapter includes some Carter/Kat fluff, as well as some hint of a possible relationship between Jorge/Six.
CHAPTER 1
It was official; Noble Team were taking a Vacation for Christmas.
Covenant attacks on Reach had dropped dramatically. Whilst everyone knew the war hadn't finished - Certainly not, it was just beginning - It was almost a cease-fire period for Christmas. Nobody knew whenever or not the Covenant celebrated Christmas - It would be a bit crazy to actually believe so. But the majority of the UNSC believed that part of the Covenant's religious beliefs would be to celebrate an almost Christmas period, too.
Of course, during a time of brutal battles, the last thing the UNSC army wanted to do was sit around, preparing for yet more warfare.
No, that was depressing.
And besides, it was the Christmas period. Which was why Noble One, or Carter, Noble Team's Leader had let himself be persuaded by his superior, Colonel Holland.
Persuaded would be an over-exaggeration; He had to comply; Holland was his superior. What good would it do to fight with him?
The rest of the Team had taken it well. Emile, surprisingly, had taken an interest, too.
"So, what's the plan, Commander?" Jun asked. "Where exactly are we going?"
"On a road trip, Jun," Carter responded, almost wearily. "Holland gave a choice on where to go. Of course, we can't leave Reach...Jorge suggested a road trip. In his opinion, it'd be a good idea to explore more of Reach."
"And it would be, I meant it," Jorge said, strolling into the room. "We're only ever stationed in the very remote parts of the planet. I think it'd be better, to see the rest of the planet."
"Just as long as we don't go near settlements. You know what Emile is like." Carter replied.
"Of course I do," Jorge responded, frowning. "That was evident at Visegrad."
"Speak of the devil," chuckled Jun, seeing Emile enter, holding his knife. "I hope you didn't stab Kat and Six." He joked.
Jorge and Carter looked alarmed.
"I was kidding!" Jun added, seeing their expressions. "What were you doing, anyway?" Jun asked Emile.
"Sharpening my knife." Emile responded.
"As if it isn't sharp enough already..." Jorge added sarcastically. Emile glared at him.
"I just realised!" Jun piped up, almost excitedly. "Six & Emile are gonna have to remove their helmets for vacation - I mean, we're going out of armor."
Emile latched his hands to his helmet defensively, as if he was worried that someone might pull it off there and then.
"It'd be interesting to see what Six looks like," Jorge mused thoughtfully.
"Well good, 'cause you ain't seeing my face!" Emile replied stubbornly.
Carter exhaled loudly. "Come on, Emile. You can't possibly wear your helmet whilst out of armor. There's just no purpose to it. Your HUD won't even work."
"Yeah, well watch me." Emile replied.
Back in Kat and Six's bunker, the girls where preparing for the trip.
"I think we're going to have to go to a mall or something," Six suggested. "I mean, I've got one outfit. And it's completely black. Uggh." She pulled a face to show her distaste. "Agreed," Kat replied. "It'll be interesting to see what's around. I've only ever worn a training outfit out of armor."
"I guess that's what we're be wearing, then," Six sighed, pulling out a duffel bag. "I've got my armor just in case, and a hairbrush in here. Hurray."
"An hairbrush?" Kat questioned, skeptical. "Since when have you had time to brush your hair?"
"Hey!" Six replied, flattening down her short red hair. "My hair goes all frizzy from my helmet. I've got to look after it somehow."
Kat shook her head, smiling, humoured by this. She didn't expect a Spartan to have such high maintenance on her hair.
Six zipped her duffel bag up and swung the strap onto her shoulder. "Okay. You ready?"
Kat looked up from packing her own bag and had a look of pure horror on her face. "What? What is it?" Six asked, frowning.
"Your bag...it's pink!" Kat screeched.
"Oh, come on. It's not that bad, is it?"
"Uh, yes! Neon pink. Ugh."
Six shook her head. "Come on, let's just find the guys."
Kat and Six entered the mess hall of the base to see Emile and Jorge fighting, with Carter and Jun trying, but failing, to spilt them up.
Both stopped fighting when their eyes fell upon Six without her helmet.
"See, Emile," Jun exclaimed, breaking the silence. "Now you have to take your helmet off! Six has."
Emile sighed loudly, and surprisingly, did so. Everybody was shocked at what they saw. Kat and Six gasped loudly. Emile was incredibly good looking.
He had quite tan skin, short and scruffy hair, dark hazel eyes and full lips. One scar was slashed across his cheek. It was quite deep, showing the combat Emile had faced in the past.
"Well, uh, it's good to see what you look like?..." Jun suggested awkwardly, trying to break the silence. Everybody cleared their throats awkwardly.
"Anyway, is everybody ready to go?" Carter asked, already taking Kat's duffel bag for her. Everybody nodded, and Carter lead the way to a large truck parked outside.
Jorge followed Carter's gentlemanly gesture by taking Six's duffel bag for her.
"No, no, it's fine..." Six protested, trying to reach back for her bag.
"Honestly, it's fine, Six," Jorge replied, smiling down at her. "I've got it." He lunged the bag onto his shoulder and strode ahead, in order to stop her from protesting further.
Six smiled at him, and jogged slightly to catch up with him. Together they walked, chatting as they went.
Carter got into the front seat of the truck, and put the keys in the ignition. Kat got in besides him, and handed him a map.
"Jorge marked the route in red marker." She pointed out.
"Thanks, Kat." Carter replied, smiling. Gingerly, he took her hand, and she let him. They sat in silence waiting for the others, holding hands.
Jorge opened the boot of the truck, carefully putting Six's bag in. Six watched, smiling.
"Thanks again, Jorge." She said.
"It's not a problem, Six." He replied, returning the smile. They clambered in behind Carter and Kat, waiting for Jun and Emile. Jorge noticed Carter and Kat holding hands, but didn't comment further. In a way, he had wanted to hold Six's hand, too. He liked her - He just didn't know if she liked him back.
Six almost felt awkward, sitting behind Carter and Kat holding hands. They seemed blissfully unaware, and Six would hate to know their reactions if she ruined whatever romantic moment they were having. Instead, she looked at the boring view of the base and some thinking. She almost wanted to make some sort of small talk with Jorge, but she didn't know what to say. Besides that, it might disrupt Carter and Kat. It wasn't as if she really cared if there 'romantic moment' was ruined; That really, wasn't her concern. It was what if they realised they weren't alone? They could get embarrassed, or even worse, they might get angry at what Six and Jorge had seen. After all, they were the Commanders of the Team. They had responsibilities. More than that, though, Six didn't want their Christmas Vacation to be ruined. It was the first since she was a young girl, and the first in a squad. It was certainly new to her, and she wasn't about to ruin it for everyone else.
Jun chucked his bag into the boot, not really caring if anything was damaged. What was there to damage? Emile strolled past, not carrying any bags.
"Aren't you bringing anything?" Jun asked skeptically. Emile looked at him as if he were mad, before replying.
"No. I've got everything I need here." He gestured to what he was wearing. Sure enough, he was wearing his black training outfit. Emile didn't really need anything else, just his knife, which as usual, he was holding in one hand. He climbed in behind Jorge and Six and almost gagged at the sight of Carter and Kat holding hands.
There was one thing Emile didn't do, and that was romance.
Instead, he cursed under his breath for not having a decent object to sharpen his knife on. The truck wouldn't do, Carter would be pissed if Emile had damaged it.
A moment later, Jun slammed the truck boot shut, jumping everyone out of their thoughts, and Carter and Kat from their holding hands position, as if they had just realised everyone else was around.
Jun climbed in next to Emile, and got comfortable, grinning excitedly.
"I'm ready!" He called.
"Alright, Jun," Carter replied, clenching his jaw. Jun's ecstatic behaviour annoyed Carter and Emile, whilst Six found it amusing.
"Everybody ready?" Carter asked. Everybody called yes, expect Emile, who mumbled it instead. "Then we're off," Carter said with a smile, starting the engine.