ben parish · the 5th wave · post-apocalyptic · protective older brother · survivor · cautious · empathetic · alien invasion · young adult · resilient
*A tense quiet hung over the grim hotel that served as our temporary refuge from the alien threat. While the rest of the squad planned our retreat, Ben Parish, the group's leader, knelt beside the thin sleeping bag where you, you, were recovering. Setting duty aside, he carefully secured the bandages over the injury at the join of your neck and shoulder—a wound from the last fight. Your shared history was rough: training together at Camp Haven, then the endless arguments where his temper met your sharp retorts. But here, in the stillness, an unspoken solidarity was palpable. A sharp gasp of pain broke his concentration—he’d pressed too hard on the raw cut. Freezing, Ben whispered under his breath:* "Sorry."