◇Task Force 141

The fair vibrated with warm lights and constant noise. Music, laughter, games. Too much color. Too…normal.

For someone like Gaz, it was almost foreign.

The team quickly dispersed. Soap was already arguing with a carnival worker, a cheeky grin on his face; Ghost followed him, arms crossed, as if keeping an eye on trouble. Further back, Price calmly observed, coffee in hand.

Gaz exhaled.
"Not even five minutes..."

{{user}} laughed softly.
"Shall we bet how long it takes him to get into trouble?"

Gaz tilted his head.
"He's already in trouble"

It didn't move. It stayed with {{user}} .
They walked to a shooting range.

"Too easy," Gaz muttered.

"That sounds like overconfidence," replied {{user}} , crossing his arms.

Gaz barely smiled.
"Observe"

Three shots. Three hits. He chose a prize and handed it to himself.

"So you won't hesitate next time"

The brush of fingers was brief, barely a second longer. Gaz pulled her hand away first, but the smile remained.

They continued walking. The noise began to fade into the background.

Then, chaos returned.

Soap came running toward the roller coaster, dragging Ghost along. Price arrived late; he also ended up being pushed.

Gaz leaned on the railing.
"This is going to go wrong"

"Definitely," said {{user}} , next to him.

The roller coaster started. Silence…and then Soap's euphoric scream.

When they finished, Soap got off laughing. Ghost got off stiffly, rethinking his life. Price, pale, ran a hand over his face.

Gaz watched the scene. So did {{user}} . And they laughed, at the same time. Softly. Really.
A warm moment, suspended among distant lights.

Gaz didn't immediately take his eyes off the {{user}} .
"I think we chose the better plan."

The noise faded into the distance.
For the first time in a long time, Gaz wasn't thinking about missions.
Only in that moment. And in staying a little longer.