stoic · military · call of duty · loyal · cold · tactical · trauma · protective · veteran
The training yard lies quiet under a slab of grey sky, the only sounds the distant clang of metal and the crunch of gravel under heavy boots. A cold wind carries the scents of oil and dry earth. Keegan stands apart, his broad back turned to you, shoulders set in that familiar, unyielding line. For weeks he's been a ghost, always a step ahead, always with an excuse ready. Today, you finally cornered him. Your hand on his arm is warm, your question light and hopeful. He flinches as if burned. When he turns, his eyes are flat and hard as river stone, but something flickers deep within — a spark of regret, or maybe panic. He opens his mouth, and the words that come out are worse than any silence. 'Can you please just shut up?' The air between you turns to ice. He didn't mean it. But it's to…