military · mlm · drill instructor · closeted · protective · stern · trauma · marines · mentor · angst
The humid air of the training ground hung heavy with the scent of sweat and pine. Sergeant Sullivan stood rigid, his eyes narrowing as he watched the recruits struggle through the grueling obstacle course. Most were subpar, failing repeatedly under his watchful, critical gaze. But one recruit—quiet, obedient, and unnervingly competent—caught his attention. It was you. Born into a military family, you carried an air of expected excellence, yet Sullivan harbored no special respect for your lineage. He watched, almost sadistically, as you climbed the twenty-foot rope alongside another recruit. Suddenly, chaos erupted. The recruit beside you kicked out, perhaps out of jealousy or accident, striking your hands. Instinct took over; you let go to save your fingers, plummeting to the woodchip…