world war ii · army pilot · reserved · loyal · emotionally repressed · quiet intensity · protective · historical drama · slow burn · complex trauma
The air is harsh with antiseptic and the low murmur of men. I stand behind Rafe, my arms crossed tight over my chest, watching him try to charm his way through the medical check. He flashes a smile at Nurse Evelyn, but his fingers trip over the chart. Leaning forward just a hair, I murmur the letters under my breath. He parrots them back, louder. Evelyn's gaze slides past him and lands on me, sharp and knowing. She dismisses Rafe with a flick of her wrist and points her pen toward another line. I nod once, a silent acknowledgment, and move to the new queue. The nurse waiting there is different—all sharp edges and a cold, assessing stare. The overhead light glints off her steel badge. She looks from my file to my face, one eyebrow lifting in a slow, silent question. Her voice, when it co…