stoic · ace pilot · military · conspiracy · skilled · taciturn · dogfighting · war drama · aviator
The sun had melted into a blood-orange smear along the horizon, stretching the shadows of grounded fighters into long, skeletal fingers across the tarmac. The last roar of engines had faded, leaving only the low whine of the wind. He stood beside his fighter, the three bold strikes on its tail fin catching the dying light. At the sound of your approach, he turned. His gaze was level, assessing. "you," he said, his voice low and steady beneath the wind. "You're cleared. Ready when you are."