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Being in the military can be hard.
But nothing is harder than coming from nothing.
Simon Riley grew up in a shit home but made something of himself. It was difficult and took a lot to get where he wanted to be. Almost.
Love.
It’s an emotion that’s very hard for him to notice, not being one to really understand what it means. He’d say he’s very close to everyone in the 141 but he questions if they all feel the same about him.
Do they see him how he views them?
“Si! Come eat dinner with us!” Johnny interrupts his thoughts by walking into the firing range where Simon is currently putting a gun back together. Simon can admit that they’re pretty close, probably closer than he is with anyone else. Though, they hold some secrets too–sharing a kiss here and there. That’s something he’ll keep to himself for now.
Simon gives a small nod for confirmation, quickly finishing and puts the gun back in its holster. When he faces the door, he finds Johnny waiting for him, leaning on the doorframe. He’s always so beautiful, so bright and full of energy. When Simon first met him, he was envious. Now? He’s full of adoration.
“Not rushing down to steal all the dessert, Sergeant?” Simon jokes as he walks up to him, Johnny feigning offense by putting a hand to his chest. The notion makes Simon chuckle, bumping their shoulders together as a sign of sincerity.
They walk the halls together, joking and whispering along the way, something they’ve done a hundred times by now. They run into Gaz on their way, the younger Brit patting Simon’s arm. “Hey, Ghost. Good run in the range today?” He noticed…?
“Yeah, actually. Beat my record today.” Simon replies, baffled that Gaz even took notice or even really cared about it. But the man lit up, asking more detail about it. It made Simon’s heart flutter a bit at the thought. Strange.
Hitting the rec-room, they find Price and Roach at the stove, both of them looking up at the same time. It makes Simon smile under the mask.
Maybe he should take it off when they eat…
“There you are, you muppets. Go sit, we’re almost done.” Price’s gruff voice fills the room, the three of them sitting at the only table in the room. It smells delicious in here, making Simon’s stomach growl in favor. Price and Roach are the two he’s known the longest, meeting when Simon and Roach were still sergeants.
Simon’s stomach rumbles as he tries to figure out what’s being made, the smell saturates around him. It’s familiar, nostalgic. He looks over at his captain with a quirk of his brow. “What did you make, Price?”
“Your favorite. At least, that’s what you told me almost ten years ago. It’s not perfect either, but I think you’ll like it.” My favorite? Simon looks at him confusingly, not sure what to make of the wide smile Price is currently giving him.
Then it hits.
Sunday Roast. But it’s Wednesday? Whatever the thought, Simon feels his heart leap. What’s happening right now?
“Did something happen that you guys aren’t telling me? You’re stressing me the hell out.” Simon quips, peering around at his teammates with a weirded out look. This isn’t normal for them, at all.
Everyone just laughs, making him irritated. Simon definitely missed something somewhere, or they’re just messing with him. Though, everyone with smiles on their faces settles something in his gut—happiness? Joy?
“We just love you, Si.” Johnny says, looking at him with those gorgeous blues. But the man’s words make him flinch a little.
Love.
“Come off it, this some sort of joke?” It’s not heated when he says it, but his chest feels sort of tight. Love.
Price lets out a hum before grabbing the plates from a cabinet while the room goes silent. Did he just ruin the moment? Surely not?
It stays silent as Price and Roach carry over plates before grabbing their own, small smiles as they sit. Simon just stares at the food in front of him, entranced by how delicious it looks. They really outdid themselves this time.
It looks just like how his mother used to make it…
“Price this is… this is amazing. Thank you.” Is all he can say, in awe of what sits before him. The roast is made just right, the gravy nice and thick. And the potatoes with the broccoli? Perfectly seasoned from what he can tell. It looks so nice, he doesn’t even want to eat it.
Price places a hand on his arm, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze. “Of course! You told me about this in full detail in the past. You said you missed it so I wanted to try and recreate it for you.”
“Why are you all doing this?”
They all give him a look of sympathy for his confusion, understanding that he doesn’t really get this at all. “Like I said,” Johnny smiles, “because we love you.”
Gaz adds more, “We noticed that you’ve been down and out of it from this last bust of a mission. We wanted to give you something from it.”
“Something you’ve deserved for a long, long time, Simon. We’re a family, yeah? I think it’s time to start acting like it more.” Price smiles around the table. “Now take off your mask and eat, boy. I need to know if I made it right.”
Simon can’t remember a time he ripped his mask off as fast as he does in this moment, immediately shoving a mouthful of everything between his lips.
Good. Fucking. God.
Simon lets out a pleased groan as he chews, tears beginning to spring to his eyes. It’s literally perfect, all out of it. Perfectly made with love.
If this is what family is, what love is, Simon regrets not knowing sooner. How much did he miss out on?
“Love, why are you crying?” Johnny asks as he stands abruptly, rushing over to Simon’s side. Gaz can be heard whispering “I knew it! I knew there was something going on there! Calling him love…” in the current mess. Price looks concerned, Roach just stares.
This is family.
“I love you guys, thank you. This means the world to me.” Simon rasps out, savoring every bite he takes from his Wednesday Sunday Roast. Price gives a sigh of relief, leaning over to rub Simon’s back. It feels fatherly, tender with care.
Roach eventually gets up and joins Johnny in wrapping themselves around Simon while he eats, Gaz still going on about Johnny and Simon’s not-so-secret-anymore relationship.
The day ends with friendly banter and drinks, huddled close in Price’s newly renovated office on the large couch he got with it, using a projector they haven’t used in some time to watch Simon’s favorite movies.
This is love.
Something Simon will make sure he never loses.