#loverboy!soap

of course in the beginning they're tight lipped and a just a little over it when he gushes about the new love of his life, having heard this a million times about a million partners. in a month's time he'd have a new infatuation. out of politeness none of them roll their eyes when he can see them.

but the object of his desire is the same the next month, and the month after that. he might not have changed the intensity with which he speaks about his partner, but they all notice how much lighter he seems to be.

the pep in his step isn't like the one he gets from getting laid, its different. more genuine.

Price sees it in his work, obviously. Johnny's always been disarmingly smart, but now he's so much more sure of himself. in the field he's cleaner, more efficient than he previously was. it makes Johnny even more deadly, and even more valuable. the kid's head seems to be clearer than ever, even if Price knows he's daydreaming about you when he's rigging explosives.

Ghost sees it in the gym, the way that Johnny has a special alert for your messages and calls and will stop his reps immediately when the ping comes through his headphones. the meals you cook for his lunches are doing wonders, Johnny's got more energy and is bulking at rates Ghost wasn't sure were possible. and the guy's taking more progress pictures than ever before, and when questioned about it shrugs and says "lass asks fer bicep pictures when she's sad."

But Gaz notices everything in between. he sees the little notes you slip in Johnny's lunch (and that Johnny keeps every. single. one.) Johnny's jokes aren't any funnier, but they make you laugh so he's going to continue to tell them. he doesn't have wandering eyes at the bar anymore, only moaning and groaning about how long it's going to take for you to come and pick him up. Kyle can feel how much lighter you've made Johnny, now that he doesn't have to keep all the dark stuff bottled up.

Sure, they all keep that stuff buried. But Johnny always doubled down on that, not even allowing himself to feel grumpy or upset because he needed to be the one to lighten the mood. he needed to tell the jokes and make everyone feel comfortable, even at his own expense. so now that he has someone to talk through all that with, the team can feel him relax into himself like a sigh of relief.

thinking of long distance loverboy!johnny mactavish who is just the right amount of clingy, the right amount of loving—even from across the world.

his good morning texts, the packages he sends, leaving the laptop on facetime when you ask for more time with him.

johnny always tries, his long distance dates are always creative whether that’s cooking for each other on facetime, spa nights while watching the same movie.

you were so lucky to have him.

maybe he's not perfect but he just can't help but fall for the people he dates. he brings flowers on the first date, and goes all out for your birthday even if you've only been seeing him for a month.

he's scared a few partners away by confessing his love too quick for their liking, but what no one seems to understand about him is that he just says what he feels in the moment. he doesn't need to hear it back right away, he wants you to know how he feels.

so when he meets you and is head over heels immediately, his team begs him to take it slower than he usually does. and johnny tries, but you're just so sweet that it's impossible not to go all in. he's buying you mementos no matter where he goes on a mission, he's already memorized your food and drink preferences, has your birthday written in a big red heart on his calendar, and knows what size you wear in everything.

he just can't help himself. it's against his nature to be normal about love. so at the 42 day mark (yes he's counting by days and not months) he can't help but blurt out those three words.

preparing for the worst, he stares at you as you giggle and pull him into a big kiss.

"you're insane, mactavish." you say into his lips.

he goes a little quiet (a rare occurrence) and you ask him if he's upset you didn't say it back. he explains that usually that sentiment scares people away, and you frown.

how on earth could a man like Johnny being in love with you ever scare you away?

so you pull him into your chest and assure him that those feelings were there and you just need a little more time than him, the silly loverboy that he is.

and a bit to your surprise, the romance never stops. he's hopeless.

years later you come home to a big surprise dinner in celebration of 1000 days together.

oh absolutely

his previous flings never made it to the point of meeting any of them, but once they realize that this new partner clearly matches Johnny's freak it's only a matter of time before he's parading you around.

coincidentally there's a big military award ceremony that they're all required to attend (Johnny whines about his suit and calls everyone there stuffy). so you have an excuse to buy a nice new outfit, one that makes the two of you almost late because he simply will not take his hands or his eyes off you.

there is no doubt in my mind Johnny is the type to show his friends a bunch of pictures of whoever he's talking to. despite this, when he flipped his phone around the first time he showed them your photo they were convinced he was either lying or getting catfished. he pouted when they told him you were miles out of his league (a whole different sport according to Gaz), even if he agreed with them.

so they have a bet between the three of them. Gaz has 20 down for you looking a little like your pictures but you had to have edited them. Ghost has 20 on him hiring someone to pose as his date. but Price actually has 20 on Johnny bringing exactly who he said he would. told the other boys not to "doubt the kid's charm".

so when Johnny waltzes in, only a little smug to be sporting the best arm candy in the room, Price claps the other two on the back now 40 pounds richer.

you on the other hand are more nervous than excited, as one usually is meeting their boyfriend's best friends in the whole world (his words not yours). he introduces you to his team and their partners if they've brought one, Kyle and John both seeming very nice and welcoming.

these are delicious because my kinks are true love and romance!!!!!

as i said in the last loverboy!soap post he's used to partners freaking out about him saying 'i love you' too soon, but he's also unfortunately used to more of a 70/30 relationship split. i saw a post on here that i can't find rn where someone said that he's so lovesick he'll always see the best in his partners even if they aren't good to him back. so when he's finally in a relationship that's reciprocated he doesn't know how to act.

so things that maybe seem small or second nature to you are monumental to him. when you're away on a week long trip to some beach resort with your friends, he's up to his usual lovesick theatrics moping around base and complaining. when you come home and proudly show him the funny t-shirt and novelty shot glass you got for him, he almost explodes (pun intended). he loves the shirt so much he doesn't even cut the sleeves off, too in love with the idea that you saw something and thought of him.

when you casually mention something that the two of you did early on in your relationship he tries to act normal about it but inside he's screaming. what do you mean you remember what he ordered on your first date at a cafe down the road? that you dried the flowers he brought you the first time he took you to a proper dinner so you could keep them forever? that you cleared out a drawer for him at your place so he could leave things and spend the night more often?

the way you make it known to him that you love being his is new too. when you graciously accept the offer of his coat and laugh at the way he gawks at you. the sight of you in his kitchen, his t-shirt on you with MACTAVISH in big white font sprawling across your shoulders. keeping a polaroid of the two of you taped to the mirror so you see it every time you get ready in the morning.

he isn't used to being loved in the way you love him, and you're in the same position. no one ever loved you as earnestly as Johnny, so being with someone who's also a lover is freeing for the both of you. the honeymoon phase never stops with the two of you, always flirting like you'd met a week ago even when you're going on 5 years.