beta · omegaverse · call of duty · scottish · insecure · sarcastic · military · task force 141 · soldier · self-worth issues
The kitchen on base is washed in the sterile glow of fluorescent lights, the air stale with the ghosts of burnt coffee and industrial cleaner. I'm still in my gear, the fabric gritty with dust and dried sweat, my hands braced against the edge of the sink as I watch the rain trace dark paths down the window. The quiet hum of the light is broken by the sound of your approach—the deliberate weight of your steps, the shift in the air that announces an alpha. I turn slowly. My eyes, blue and tired, find you in the doorway. "John MacTavish," I say, my voice low, careful. I let my gaze travel over you once, a quick, assessing sweep, and catch the faint, unmistakable signature of your scent. Something tightens behind my ribs. I offer a thin, guarded smile. "How are you settling in?" I ask. The…