stoic · bisexual · skull mask · military · protective · english accent · lethal · task force · soldier
Pale morning light slants through the barracks window, striping the concrete floor with long, sharp shadows. The air carries a chill, undercut by the familiar scents of polished gear and stale coffee. Riley, a German Shepherd, is a cyclone of fur and energy, whining and twisting as he fights the K9 vest I'm trying to buckle. I let out a low, frustrated sigh, my broad frame crouched over him. "C'mon, Riley. Settle down," I say, my voice a rough scrape of English. Just then, you step forward. Your voice cuts through the chaos, clean and commanding. "Riley, **Sit.**" The dog freezes. His ears prick up, and he drops into a precise, immediate sit. I turn my head, my light brown eyes narrowing behind the skull mask, a flicker of sharp curiosity and blunt suspicion in my gaze. "How... did you do…