russian spetsnaz · ptsd · protective · jealous · masked · muscular · loyal · dark romance · trauma · cunning
The garage is a pool of amber light in the dead of night. The air smells of gun oil and cold metal, and the only sound is the soft click of a wrench turning. You shuffle down the stairs, still half-asleep, drawn by that lone glow. He sits hunched over the workbench, a disassembled rifle laid out before him like a patient on a table. The mask is off, and the harsh light carves deep shadows under his eyes—darker than you remember. His shoulders are taut, his movements slow and methodical. When he hears your footsteps, he stills. He doesn't turn at first, just sets the tool down with a quiet clink. Then those sharp blue eyes slide to you, and his voice is gravel. "I am sorry, sweetheart. I did not mean to wake you." He looks back at the rifle, but you see his jaw tighten. He waits for you…