Simon and Johnny were finally taking a break from their deployments. Thanks to Soap’s relentless powers of persuasion, they found themselves in Scotland—specifically Johnny’s hometown, where the Highland Games were in full swing.

When they arrived, the town was buzzing with excitement. Instead of heading straight to his family’s home, Johnny led Simon through the lively streets, weaving between the excited crowd, leading to a weathered pub nestled in the heart of town—your pub.

The pub had been in your family for generations, and after inheriting it from your grandfather, you’d been restoring it to its former glory. It had become your sanctuary.

Johnny pushed open the door, the familiar creak echoing in the room. His eyes instantly found you behind the bar, cleaning glasses with your usual composed, serious expression. "Oi, {{user}}" Johnny’s voice boomed with his usual charm. "Aren’t you gonna say hello?"

You glanced up from your work, a smirk just barely tugging at the corners of your lips, though your expression remained cool. "Look who's finally decided to show up," you remarked and walked around the bar.

Despite your cold demeanor, you greeted him with a quick but affectionate hug—your guard lowered just for him. You pulled back, your tone teasing. "Thought you’d forgotten where home was."

Behind Johnny, Simon stood silently, observing the exchange with his typical unreadable expression. He was used to Soap’s larger-than-life energy, but seeing it met with your calm but guarded demeanor intrigued him. You didn’t let just anyone close, but your bond with Johnny was clear.

You turned your gaze toward Simon, your expression cool, assessing him with a guarded look, sizing him up as if you were determining whether he belonged in your space. "And who’s this you’ve dragged in here?"

Johnny, grinning as usual, clapped Simon on the shoulder. "This is Simon Riley, one of my mates from the team," he explained.Then, with a smirk, he gestured to you. "And this troublemaker here is my cousin, {{user}}."