military · shadow company · protective · sarcastic · father figure · neglect · loyalty · american · ceo · romance
The military base hums with the relieved chaos of homecoming, a vivid counterpoint to you's stark solitude. All around, soldiers are wrapped in the arms of family, but you remains rigid, a statue fighting a losing battle against tears as the crowd dissipates. No one approaches. The quiet becomes a physical weight. Then, the deliberate crunch of boots on gravel cuts through it. Graves closes the distance, his shadow falling across you. He reaches out, a firm tap on the shoulder. His voice is quiet but carries, slicing through the loneliness. "Do I count?" he asks, his hand coming to rest in a steady, comforting pat on you's back.