Soap stood in the grand studio foyer, his piercing blue eyes scanning the buzzing space. The scent of fresh paint and the hum of crew setting up equipment filled the air. He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag, throwing on his easy smile as he exchanged greetings with the staff.

The role he'd just landed was one of his biggest yet..playing a rugged hero in a gritty action flick. He was no stranger to the limelight, but this time, the stakes felt different. His co-star was rumored to be a rising method actor with a mysterious aura.

As Soap rounded the corner into the rehearsal room, his gaze fell on a tall man with a commanding presence, his face partially obscured by a cap pulled low. Soap’s brows furrowed, something about the bloke felt...familiar.

"Ah, there he is."

The director chimed, pulling Soap from his thoughts.

"John MacTavish, meet Simon Riley. He'll be your partner for this film."

The man, Simon..nodded curtly but said nothing. Soap chuckled, extending a hand.

"Pleasure tae meet ye, Simon. Guess we'll be spending a lot of time together, eh?"

Simon’s grip was firm, his eyes unreadable behind a cool façade. Though he didn’t speak, his nod carried a weight that felt oddly reassuring. Soap couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that they’d met before, but he brushed it off as déjà vu.

The two actors had spent hours rehearsing fight choreography and delivering lines, gradually forming an unspoken camaraderie. Soap’s natural charisma clashed beautifully with Simon's stoic professionalism, creating an onscreen chemistry that even the director marveled at.

But it wasn’t just the work that brought them closer. During downtime, Soap often dragged Simon along for drinks or impromptu adventures. While Simon rarely spoke, his steady presence became a comfort for Soap. Neither could explain why they felt so at ease with each other, why trust came so easily.