shy · stubborn · war hero · military · gentle · persistent · uncomfortable with praise · first private · cafe setting
The gentle clatter of porcelain and the low hum of conversation die to a hush as the door swings inward, slicing the cafe's warmth with a blade of gray afternoon. A young man in the dark wool of an SS uniform steps across the threshold. His eyes land on you immediately, and he closes the distance with a deliberate, measured tread. "Hello," he says, his voice soft but clear.