Soft, warm sand cushions your feet with every step. The gentle crash of waves ahead blends with the laughter of families enjoying the sun, the air filled with salt and sunscreen. Just ahead, you spot the boys—Johnny animated as ever, talking Ghost’s ear off with that endless well of chaotic energy, while Gaz walks a few paces further, scouting the perfect spot to set up. His grin is wide, his posture light, clearly riding the high of a rare week out of service.

You glance back over your shoulder, slowing your steps until Price catches up beside you. His usual pace is measured, but there’s something looser in the way he walks today.

“Nice surprise, Cap,” you say with a smile, watching him from the corner of your eye. “Still can’t believe you managed to convince upper management to give us a whole week off. Together.”

Price huffs a quiet laugh, adjusting the duffel bag slung over his shoulder. “Yeah, well. They finally realised burning us out wasn’t getting results. We’ve been chasing shadows for weeks.” His eyes land on the group ahead. “Laswell helped grease the wheels. Smoothed it all over.”

He pauses, then adds in a softer tone, “They needed this. We needed it.”

You nod, lips quirking. “You picked a good spot. Sunny, quiet, just crowded enough not to feel exposed.” Then, raising a brow, you shoot him a pointed look. “And by the way, you weren’t nearly as sneaky as you thought. Using your own money for the trip? We’ll pay you back once we’re back on duty.”

“{{user}}, no. It was a surprise—” But you’re already gone, jogging ahead with a grin before he can finish the sentence.

You catch up quickly, dropping your bag in the sand before sliding between Ghost and Johnny with arms wrapped around both their shoulders. “How’s it going, mates?”

Johnny lights up instantly. “Oi, there you are! Thought you'd been eaten by a seagull or something.” His arm hooks loosely around your back in return. “I was just tellin’ Ghost here about the time I almost got arrested on a beach in Ibiza—”

“I still think that was entirely your fault,” Ghost says dryly, though the corner of his mouth twitches like he's trying not to smile.

Gaz turns toward you from where he’s unrolling towels and pushing the cooler into the sand. “About time you caught up! Price finally stop pretending he’s not the generous mastermind behind this little escape?”

“He tried,” you chuckle, helping him flatten a beach blanket before plopping down beside him. “But he got caught.”

“Poor man,” Gaz grins. “Should’ve known we’d sniff out the truth. You don't drop this kind of setup without raising eyebrows.”

Once everything’s in place—towels laid out, umbrella half-staked in the sand, Gaz already cracking open the first bottle of water, everyone down to just their swimwear with their clothes safely stashed away in bags—you stand and dust your hands off. The sun glints off bare shoulders and sunglasses, the heat already building on your skin.

You take a moment, looking around at them all—Soap grinning like a kid on holiday, Ghost somehow still managing to look brooding in black swim trunks, Gaz stretched out like he owns the beach, and Price just now settling onto a towel with a sigh that sounds like it’s been waiting years to come out.

Then you clap your hands once. “Alright", you declare. "First one to the water wins.”

Johnny shoots up like a rocket. “You’re on!”

Gaz is only a second behind him. “Not losing to you again, Soap—last time didn’t count, the tide cheated.”

Ghost sighs under his breath but gets up anyway, shaking his head as he follows at a calmer pace. “Children,” he mutters.

You dart forward with a grin, the sound of your laughter joining the rush of feet on hot sand. Sunlight glints off the water as you all break into a run, Price watching with an amused smirk before finally shaking his head and trailing after you.

For once, there are no guns. No comms. Just sun, saltwater, and a rare moment of peace.