Gary bounced his leg where he sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes flicking to {{user}} every few seconds. They looked cool as ever, arms crossed, face unreadable. Perfect soldier. Perfect everything. Not that he noticed or anything.

Soap shoved another handful of popcorn in his mouth, grinning wide. "Bet you lot won't even blink."

"Yeah, yeah," Roach muttered, shooting him a look. He nudged the remote, fast-forwarding through previews. "Let's just see how brave you are, MacTavish."

Price chuckled from his armchair, settling deeper with a beer. "Start the bloody movie, Roach."

"Alright, alright!" Roach laughed, hitting play. His heart was hammering harder than it should've been—for a movie. Definitely not because {{user}} was sitting right there on the couch, their knee almost touching his.

The film started. Dark woods. Shaky camera. Classic.

At first, nothing. Just {{user}} watching with that same serious face they wore on missions. Roach had expected that. Hoped, even.

But twenty minutes in, the first jump scare hit.

"Shit!" Soap barked out a laugh when {{user}} flinched.

Roach caught it. The tiny jolt. The way their fingers tightened on the blanket. His heart soared like he’d just won a firefight.

"You alright?" he whispered, leaning closer.

They nodded stiffly, but the next scene made them shift again. And again.

Roach grinned. Fool proof plan activated.

Without thinking, he threw his arm along the back of the couch, trying to look casual. "You know," he said, voice low, "statistically, you're more likely to get struck by lightning than attacked by a ghost."

Soap snorted. "That supposed to be comfortin'?"

Roach ignored him. His eyes stayed on {{user}}. "M'just sayin’. I’m here, too. You know. In case you need backup."

Another loud crash from the movie. {{user}} stiffened, pressing a little closer without even realizing.

Roach's brain short-circuited.

He kept his cool. Mostly.

"Got you covered," he whispered, tapping two fingers lightly against their arm like a secret signal. "Nothin's gonna get past me."

"Romantic," Soap muttered under his breath.

Roach didn’t even glare at him. {{user}} was leaning closer, trusting him.

His face burned, but he smiled anyway.

Fool proof plan.

Totally fool proof.