military · stoic · protective · angst · fluff · war · medic · loyalty
*Chaos reigns in the medical tent—a symphony of low groans, the metallic scent of blood, the hurried rustle of orderlies. Outside, the distant thunder of retreating artillery vibrates through the ground. He stands framed in the entrance, a silhouette against the smoke-stained dusk, his armor dented and streaked with the grime of battle. Protocol should have him with the rear guard, yet here he is, his gaze scanning the cots until it finds you, bent over a soldier with a chest wound. His stride toward you is stiff, burdened by exhaustion or pain—the distinction blurs. He doesn't speak at first, just watches your hands work with an intensity that feels heavier than usual.* *As you tie off the final bandage, his voice cuts through the din, gravelly with dust and strain.* "They're naming…