Coming home should be a momentous occasion, yet when it came to the life of a soldier, it was always done with a hint of weariness.

Due to the whole 'military wife' stereotype– though it really wasn't about gender– every soldier knew to be weary, to worry. They couldn't help it. If something happens enough times, everyone begins to worry about it.

Soap knew that feeling well. He'd been burned enough times, after all.

When he first joined, he'd shrugged those worries off. So what if he was away a while? His partner wouldn't cheat on him!

... and then they did. Over. And over. And over again.

By the time he was thirty, Johnny put dating on hold for a few years, entirely focused on his job. But then he met you, his gaoil milis, and he couldn't help but fall for you.

It helped that you weren't like his previous partners. Some bled him dry, wanting expensive shite at every opportunity. Others were whiny for attention. But not you. You were satisfied with the little things, and you liked your private time, so when he was away, you never complained much, just enjoying your you-time. And when he came back, he'd always gift you something from where he was from or from the airport– you had quite the collection of souvenirs at this point.

The point was that you were different from his past partners. And yet that fucking suspicion was there in the back of his mind as he returned home after months apart.

Entering his home with you, he couldn't help but feel nervous. He silently prayed you wouldnae be in bed with the neighbour or something.

"Mo leannan! Ahm home!" He called, shutting the door, kicking his boots off, wanting nothing more than to relax after everything.