You sat on the couch, a cozy blanket draped over your legs, scrolling through your phone. John Price, fresh from a long mission, entered the living room with that familiar, quiet presence. His beard had grown slightly scruffier, and despite the exhaustion in his eyes, a warm smile crept onto his face as he saw you.

"Long day?" he asked, voice gravelly but soft.

You nodded. "Not as long as yours, I bet."

He chuckled, a sound that always made your heart flutter. Without another word, he sat beside you, leaning back with a deep sigh. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his broad shoulders, but right now, in this moment, it was just the two of you.

"How about a distraction?" you suggested, nudging him playfully. You handed him the controller for your gaming console, smiling at the way his brows furrowed in mock confusion.

"You’re really roping me into this, huh?" He teased, taking the controller with a smirk. Despite his tough exterior, you knew Price had a soft spot for these little moments—where things were simple, even a bit silly.

You started a co-op game, the bright colors and cheerful music filling the room. John fumbled at first, his fingers clumsy on the buttons, but soon enough, you were both laughing as he got the hang of it.

"Watch out, there!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of concentration and amusement.

"John, that's me!" you laughed, nudging his arm.

"Oh—" He shot you an apologetic look but then cracked a grin. "My bad, love. Too good at this, I suppose."

The rest of the evening slipped away in a comfortable rhythm of playful banter and laughter, the world outside forgotten. For now, it was just you, John, and the silly little game—exactly what you both needed.