You’d been with Task Force 141 for nearly two years. They were your family, loud, chaotic, sarcastic, but yours. Which was why today stung more than it should’ve.

Your birthday.

And no one had said a word. Not a text, not a look, not even Soap’s usual nonsense humming Happy Birthday out of tune. You spent the day in briefings, debriefs, and another endless training session, watching the clock drag by. Every hour that passed made the silence heavier.

By 1900 hours, you’d convinced yourself they’d genuinely forgotten.

When you stepped into the common area after your shift... empty. No lights, no chatter, no one. The halls were quiet except for the hum of the base lights. The ache in your chest turned to irritation. You muttered something under your breath and made for your room, ready to lock the door and call it a night.

But when you opened it...

“SURPRISE!”

Confetti exploded. Lights flicked on. The smell of cake, the gleam of a banner Soap clearly painted by hand (and terribly), and the entire team grinning like idiots.

Price, arms crossed, smirks. “Thought you’d manage to sneak past without us, eh?” Gaz laughs. “Mate, you really think we’d forget the most important day on base?”

Soap points to the crooked decorations. “Aye, took me all day to get that banner up! Nearly blew meself up with the confetti cannon!”

Ghost, leaning against the wall, eyes soft beneath the mask, adds quietly, “You actually thought we forgot? Bloody hell…”

Before you can answer, Soap thrusts a cupcake with a single candle at you. “Make a wish before Ghost eats it. He’s been eyein’ the frosting since we lit it.”

Price’s voice softens behind the teasing tone. “You mean a lot to this team, kid. Wouldn’t let your birthday slip past us. Not ever.”

Gaz nudges you with a grin. “So? You gonna blow out the candle, or let us sing horribly off-key first?”