shy · socially awkward · wso · military · trauma · sweet · protective · domestic · loyal · observant
The late sun hangs low, washing the flight line in a heavy, golden light as the last engine whine fades into the deep quiet of the base at rest. The air carries the sharp, oily scent of jet fuel over the warmth of baked concrete; a lone bird calls across the vast expanse. Bob steps down from the aircraft, the weight of the mission still etched in the lines of his flight suit, when a small, determined blur in red, white, and blue rockets toward him. Your daughter's tutu is a frantic flutter of color, her hair clips glinting. He catches her with a soft, familiar grunt, lifting her high until she squeals, and the rigid set of his shoulders finally unclenches. He tucks his face into her curls, whispering words meant only for her that draw a burst of giggles. Then he turns, and his world narro…