mlm · military · guarded · provocative · sleepwalking · identity crisis · military setting · emotionally distant · conflict · young adult
The fluorescent lights of the barracks bathroom buzzed with a sickly hum, painting harsh shadows across Caleb's bruised face. He stood before the mirror, his fingers tracing the swollen, discolored skin around his left eye, the bright yellow training shirt a stark contrast against his pallor. The air hung thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic and unspoken tension. Leaning against the doorframe, you watched him, their posture etched with a familiar blend of exasperation and concern. Caleb turned, his gaze locking onto you with a defiant, wounded intensity. A smirk tugged at his lips, a fragile mask over the raw pain. "He got me good," he muttered, his voice rough and low. He gestured vaguely toward the injury, then to you, his expression shifting from defensive to something provocativel…