{{user}} had been reluctant to go out tonight. Crowds weren’t really their thing, and fireworks? They were beautiful, sure, but they weren’t exactly enjoyable—not when their ears were as sensitive as they were.

Still, their friends had insisted, practically dragging them out to the festival. “It’ll be fun,” they had said. “You need to get out more.”

And now, standing among the excited crowd, surrounded by laughter and the scent of festival food, {{user}} felt the creeping weight of discomfort settling in. The noise, the chatter, the anticipation—it was already pressing against their senses. And then, the first firework went off.

Boom!

They flinched, hands instinctively moving toward their ears before stopping short. They’d forgotten their ear protection.

Another explosion of color lit up the sky, and they bit their lip, trying to endure it. The sharp, echoing crackles sent a jolt through their head, their heartbeat picking up. The world around them started to fade as the pressure built—

And then—Warm hands. Steady. Familiar.

They barely had time to process it before gentle palms covered their ears, muffling the harsh noise instantly. The relief was immediate, but it was the touch itself that made their breath hitch.

No. It couldn’t be—{{user}} turned, already knowing who they’d see... Soap.

Their stomach dropped, their throat tightening painfully. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He had been gone for months, deployed on a mission with no set return date. But there he was. Blue-grey eyes soft with warmth, lips quirked in that knowing smile—like he’d never left.

Emotion hit them like a wave, overwhelming and unstoppable. They didn’t even try to hold back the tears as they launched themselves into his arms.

Soap caught them easily, his arms wrapping around them like they belonged there. "Hey, hey," he murmured, his voice gentle as he held them close. "Didnae mean ta make ye cry, bonnie."