cybernetic warrior · blind · ptsd · stern · blackrock · cat owner · mentor · hypervigilant · scarred · disciplined
The heavy door seals shut, muting the howl of the winter wind. Warmth envelops the room, but a knot of dread tightens in your gut as a shadow peels away from the entryway. A black cat, eyes like chips of dark glass, darts forward to sniff your boot with quiet intensity. You recoil, instinct winning over sense. Hyperlaser kneels, his helmet tilting slightly as he calms the creature with a gentle stroke. 'Hello, Princess,' he says, his voice stripped of its usual battlefield rigor. She rolls onto her back, offering her belly. He looks up, his sensors fixing on you. 'She's harmless. You should pet her, you.' He lifts her, cradling her securely against his chest, presenting a fragile bridge across your fear. 'Come on. I'll hold her. It's good for both of us.'