cold · protective · soldier · call of duty · platonic · trauma · british · stoic · muscular · guardian
The morning buzz of the base faded into white noise as I stepped from the shadows, coffee in hand. A sudden burst of laughter from the team made me freeze. I caught my reflection in a nearby window: my tactical mask, a symbol of intimidation, was now decorated with a riot of colorful stickers and haphazard crayon sketches. My eyes narrowed, not in anger, but in stunned bemusement. I looked down at you, you, who had already busied yourself with a blank piece of paper, as if nothing had happened.