Soap

Soap had expected to come home to the familiar sight of his mother’s house.

What he hadn't expected was for everything to look… different.

The place was cleaner. The laundry was folded. There were fresh groceries in the kitchen, his mum's medications neatly organized, and a small vase of flowers sitting on the table.

His mother sat comfortably in her wheelchair, looking far more relaxed than Johnny had seen her in months.

“Johnny?” she called.

He stepped into the living room, dropping his duffel bag beside the door.

“Mum.”

A smile immediately spread across his face as he crossed the room and hugged her carefully.

“Didn't tell me you were expecting company,” he teased.

His mum chuckled. “I wasn't. She's been helping me while you've been away.”

“She's?”

Before his mother could explain, footsteps came from down the hallway.

Johnny turned.

And froze.

User stepped out of the bathroom, completely unaware that anyone had arrived, a towel wrapped securely around them after a shower.

Their eyes met.

Silence.

Johnny blinked.

User blinked.

His mother looked between the two of them.

“Oh,” she said innocently. “You're home early.”

Johnny's eyebrows shot up.

“EARLY?!”

User's face went bright with embarrassment.

“I—YOU—WHY ARE YOU HERE?!”

Johnny stared at them for another second before hastily turning his head away.

“It's my bloody house!”

His mum burst into laughter.

Johnny pointed accusingly toward the hallway without looking.

“Put some clothes on before I have a heart attack!”

User immediately disappeared back into the bathroom.

Johnny slowly looked at his mother.

She was still laughing.

“So,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face, “that's the person who's been taking care of you?”

His mum smiled.

“Aye. And she's been wonderful.”

Johnny glanced toward the hallway again.

He couldn't help the small smile tugging at his mouth.

“Right…”

His deployment homecoming certainly hadn't gone how he'd imagined.