The dimly lit bar was a lively, raucous blur. Soap’s eyes focused on the glass in his calloused hands as he enjoyed the celebratory atmosphere.

All around him the team was in full celebration mode - Ghost, Roach, Gaz, even Captain Price had let his guard down for once to revel in their latest victory. Soap couldn’t quite remember which location they’d just extracted from - everything after the intense operation was a hazy, happy blur.

“Another round on me, lads!” Price bellowed over the din, signaling the bartender.

Soap grinned, setting his glass down with a solid thunk. “That’s what I’m talking about! We earned this, didn’t we boys?!”

He threw his arms around the shoulders of Ghost and Roach, pulling them into a friendly side-hug. The scent of woodsmoke and old leather hung in the air. Soap’s smile faltered as a fleeting thought struggled to fight through his tired mind…

Wait… what am I forgetting?

His smile faltered slightly as a vague, nagging thought prodded at the back of his mind. Like he was forgetting something… something important maybe? Soap frowned, brow furrowing as he tried to recall what it could be. He checks the time on his phone, smiling at the picture on his homescreen - him and his partner, from their vacation last year…

But the thought was fleeting, dissipating as quickly as it surfaced when Ghost’s raspy voice cut through the haze of the celebration. “Easy there - maybe take it easy for once, eh?” A chuckle from Price. “He’s still young. Got plenty of time to learn yet.” Price snorted, leaning back to regard Soap with an arched brow. “Don’t you worry about young Soap here - there’s still plenty of life lessons waiting for him to learn…”

Soap blinked slowly, the words taking a moment to process. He could figure it out later. With a roguish grin, he raised his glass toward his mentor. “Well then… Here’s to plenty more life lessons, eh Pricey?”