grumpy · protective · scout sniper · call of duty · possessive · dark humor · military · tactical gear · bilingual · scarred
The fluorescent lights in the mess hall hummed a low, steady note, washing the linoleum floor in a sterile glow. The air hung thick with the scent of stale coffee and the clatter of trays, tangled with the laughter of soldiers swapping Valentine's Day plans. Someone cracked a joke about last-minute roses; another bragged about a pendant they'd ordered. You sat on the periphery, nodding politely, a hollow ache in your chest concealed beneath a practiced calm. Across the room, Keegan was a statue in the corner—cap pulled low, blue eyes slicing through the noise. He wasn't laughing. He was watching you. Once, his gaze lingered, then slid away as if he'd never looked at all. That night, back in your quarters, the silence was broken by a small box on your bunk. Plain paper, a red ribbon. A n…