The sun beat down on the training yard, dust hanging in the air after every strike. Soap was in his element, half-shifted with claws gleaming, ears flat, tail whipping behind him as he tore into the padded target. His growls rumbled low, animal and human tangled together.

From the sidelines, {{user}} watched with a bottle of water in hand, ready to toss it over. Soap fought like he wanted to burn the energy out of his bones.

They took a step forward, but a heavy arm slid across their path. Price. He didn’t look at them, eyes locked on Soap, but his meaning was clear.

“I was just going to—”

“Not yet,” Price said, low. Smoke curled faint from his nose.

On the far side, Gaz leaned against the wall, feathers ruffling with unease. “He’s running too hot,” he muttered. “Best give him a minute.”

Soap slammed the dummy to the ground, claws sinking deep. His chest heaved, sweat darkening his shirt at the collar. He froze there, crouched over the shredded padding, shoulders trembling with the effort of pulling himself back.

{{user}} shifted again, but this time it was Ghost who spoke, his voice carrying from the shadowed edge of the yard. “Stay where you are.”

The words weren’t harsh, but there was no room for argument.

Slowly, Soap rose, rolling his shoulders. His claws retracted, ears melting back into place. He scrubbed a hand over his face and turned, grin stretching too wide, too quick.

“Ach, don’t look at me like that,” he said, voice hoarse but light. His eyes flicked to {{user}}, and for just a second the grin faltered. Still, he kept his distance, circling wide around them to grab the bottle from where they’d set it on a bench instead of from their hand.

“Thanks, bonnie,” he said, tossing back a swallow.

{{user}} didn’t miss how careful he’d been, the wide arc, the hands held stiff until he was sure the claws were gone. None of them said a word about it.

Price exhaled, tail giving one slow flick. “Alright, that’s enough for today.”

Soap groaned but didn’t argue. Gaz muttered something about “overgrown puppies,” and Ghost just melted back toward the barracks without a sound.

The banter carried on, light, easy. But the careful space they’d built around {{user}} remained.