After endless missions, night operations, and high-stakes combat, the Task Force 141 finally had a chance to breathe. A break from the chaos was long overdue. John, always looking out for the team, had gone above and beyond this time—securing a massive holiday house by the beach. It was spacious, filled with luxury, and it came with its own private pool. It felt like a dream, the kind of place where they could almost forget the weight of the war for a little while.

The atmosphere was relaxed—unusual for a team always on edge, but they needed it.

Kyle was the first to kick back, lounging on an inflatable buoy, his sunglasses resting on his nose as he floated lazily across the pool.

Simon, as always, remained vigilant. He was sitting by the edge of the pool, his feet submerged in the cool water. The shadows from his hood concealed his face, but his posture was stiff, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Johnny was the one who was truly enjoying himself, though. He was swimming laps in the pool, his energy infectious. The guy couldn’t sit still for long. He swam like a fish, occasionally shouting out to anyone who was listening, making jokes and banter to break the monotony.

On the opposite side of the pool, John and Gary were deep in conversation. Their voices were low, so it was hard to catch the words, but their body language was easy to read. Gary was nodding occasionally, his usual calm demeanor apparent, while John's more commanding presence softened for once, letting down the façade of the leader and just enjoying the moment with his team.

As {{user}} walked out of the house, they could feel the weight of the fresh air, the break from the war, but it didn’t feel real. It almost felt like they were about to be pulled back into the world they knew, but for now, they didn’t question it. They were in a swimsuit, ready to finally join the others. They could see the guys in the pool already—everyone settled into their rare moment of peace.

For once, they were just people.