Call of duty one shots

The flickering lights overhead illuminated the vast expanse of the workshop, where laughter and the scent of peppermint filled the air. Roach blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes as he took in his surroundings. Instead of the familiar, grimy concrete of a hideout, he found himself in what could only be described as Santa's workshop—colorful shelving lined with toys, bustling little elves scurrying around, and an enormous Christmas tree decked out in glittering ornaments towering in the corner.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, the sound of a high-pitched elf giggle spotting him from across the room. Gaze steady, he lifted his hand to his face, only to find that his fingers were tiny and his skin had a greenish tint. "Oh no," he panicked, glancing around wildly. "What happened to me?!"

He scrambled to his feet, the jingling of tiny bells ringing with each movement. A quick glance in a nearby mirror confirmed his worst fears—he was now dressed in a bright red outfit with pointed ears. An elf. He was an elf.

"Hey there, new guy!" a burly elf with a thick beard and a cheerful demeanor approached him. "You must be Roach! Welcome to the North Pole! We've been waiting for you!"

Before he could protest, the bearded elf, who introduced himself as Jingle, wrapped an arm around Roach and ushered him towards a group of eager elves assembling toy trains. "We've got a lot of work to do before Christmas Eve! You've been chosen to help us deliver gifts this year!"

"Wait, help deliver gifts?!" Roach exclaimed, still dizzy from his abrupt change in scenery and form. "I'm not an elf! I'm—"

"You are now! With your tactical training, you'll be perfect for coordinating our nighttime deliveries. We need someone with your skills. Plus, we need to speed things up—it's Christmas Eve tomorrow!"

Despite his panicked protests, Roach reluctantly followed Jingle deeper into the workshop, surrounded by the bustling energy of the festive atmosphere. He watched elves work at an astonishing pace, assembling toys, wrapping presents, and checking lists.

"Okay, fine," Roach said finally with resignation. "I'll help. But how do I even do that?"

Jingle clapped his hands gleefully. "First, you need to learn the proper elf techniques!" He handed Roach a stack of brightly colored wrapping paper and a box of cheerfully patterned ribbons.

With some guidance from the other elves, Roach struggled through making bows that seemed to have a mind of their own. His fingers, though nimble, were not built for such delicate work, and soon he was surrounded by crumpled sheets and half-wrapped gifts.

After hours of clumsy wrapping and a few accidental hair-raising encounters with a rogue toy-making machine, Roach discovered his knack for aerial reconnaissance. Instead of crafting toys, he suggested a management plan for organizing the gifts based on neighborhoods.

"Let's synchronize our delivery routes!" he declared, pulling the other elves together. "We need to be efficient!"

With chalk in hand, Roach drew up maps on the workshop's expansive chalkboard, marking streets to take, hotspots to avoid, and backup options in case of unexpected weather changes. The elves nodded along, wide-eyed and filled with enthusiasm as he outlined a near-military operation.

As darkness fell over the North Pole, Roach found himself in a sleigh, flanked by a jolly Santa Claus and a crew of excited elves geared up for their mission. He wore a new festive outfit, complete with a matching hat and sequined belt—though still a bit tight.

"Ready, Roach?" Santa asked, his voice warm and inviting.

"Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose," Roach murmured, gripping the reins tightly. As they lifted into the night sky, the shimmering lights of the world below captivated him.

"Ho, ho, ho!" Santa called cheerily as they soared over the land. "Just follow the list and stay sharp, Roach!"

With each stop, Roach rediscovered his tactical expertise, deftly directing the elves in stealth maneuvers while they snuck into houses, delivering gifts with precision. They navigated through chimneys and slid down snowy rooftops, filled with laughter and magic that had lost its luster over the years.

By dawn, they had successfully delivered gifts to children all over the world—an unexpected sense of satisfaction washed over Roach. Despite his circumstances, he realized the beauty of spreading joy and hope.

Finally, as the first light of Christmas morning broke over the horizon, the sleigh landed back at the workshop. Santa clapped Roach on the back with a hearty laugh. "You did wonders today! You've truly become part of the team. Are you ready to take on another Christmas next year?"

Roach looked around the workshop, the bright smiles and cheerful chatter of his fellow elves filling his heart with warmth. It was a strange new world, but the spirit and camaraderie were unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

"Yeah, I think I could get used to this," he said with a smile even despite being an elf.

With that, Roach changed his mind—maybe this unexpected chapter in his life wasn't so bad after all. He might be an elf now, but he could still work on his tactical skills…and add a bit of magic to the world while he was at it.