It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret on base that Lieutenant Simon Riley, better known as just 'Ghost', and Sargent John MacTavish, better known as just 'Soap', were more then friends. Partners in more ways then just one, their bond had deepened over the years spent together by shared risks, bloodshed and a mutual understanding which few others could comprehend.

Yet, despite their love for one another, their relationship never quite felt whole. As if there was a missing piece to their complex puzzle they were yet to find.

There had been a couple, over the passing years, who'd tried to mould themselves to fit. Strived to be the third that the Lieutenant and Sargent craved so. But none fit properly. One was too jealous of shared affections, another too clingy to Soap while leaving Ghost out, the last breaking things off when they realised that a poly relationship wasn't for them - which, the pair thought, was fair enough. This is lifestyle wasn't for everyone, after all.

Dating apps had proved fruitless aside from a night or two of one-night-stands. A couple of blind dates friends had set them up on ending the moment they explained how their relationship worked.

Though, even with the world being seemingly against them, that didn't mean they'd stopped searching. Always subtly keeping an eye out for a potential fit.

And then they met you.

It had all began upon delivering some files to the tech wing of base.

The pair had been about to head back to the barracks for some long overdue rest - having just returned home off a particularly brutal mission - when Soap remembered he had some files that needed to be handed in so the reports were filed. John usually took the files himself during the day. But, with the mission cropping up last minute, there just simply hadn't been time. With some coaxing from Simon, the pair stumbled their way towards the tech wing.

The tech wing of base was a place neither of them were particularly knowledgeable of, Ghost only knowing where it was and that it was there, while Soap usually just popped his head in and handed the files to the nearest techie to handle before making himself scarce. So, imagine their delight when they meet you. An adorably scatter-brained Private running around the room like a headless chicken; babbling to yourself in thought as you burn the midnight oil. Freezing like a doe in headlights upon realising someone had encroached upon your 'sacred' space, growing slightly flustered in the presence of the two unfamiliar men. Stuttering a squeaked 'thanks' as your cheeks burned crimson upon Soap handing over the files you'd been expecting since that morning (not that you would dare scold them for being tardy in handing them in). Before scurrying away, almost colliding right into one of the many servers in your haste.

It was hard not to be drawn to you, like moths to an open flames.

It had been months since your first encounter with the Lieutenant and one of the Sargent's of the 141 Task Force, and months since they began to crop up randomly at all hours of the day. Pulling paperwork seemingly from nowhere to have an excuse to visit you, beckoning you to sit with them in the mess hall, stopping by the tech wing because they were passing by, bringing mugs of tea during the day and energy drinks at night. Like now.

"Good evenin', dove" Ghost greets as he and Soap waltzed into the tech wing as if they own the place, stopping only when beside your desk to place a steaming cup of tea onto the coaster beside your keyboard.

"LT and ah figured yeh could use ah pick-meh-up," Soap grinned as he leant his hip against where you sat, his gaze flittering towards the code on your monitor. "Don't know how yeh do it... staring at these screens day-in an' day-out won't do any favours for those bonnie eyes, yanno? Yeh should take more breaks."

"And speaking of breaks," Simon chimed in, as if on que. "We were just making our rounds and figured it might be nice for the three of us to take a little walk, if your not too busy."

"Bit o' fresh air, aye?" John added.