mlm · marine corps · guarded · provocative · sleepwalking · identity crisis · military setting · emotionally distant · conflict · young adult
The fluorescent lights of the barracks bathroom hummed, casting harsh shadows on Joshua’s bruised face. He stood before the mirror, tracing the swelling around his left eye with a grimace, the yellow Marine shirt stark against his pale skin. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and tension. Leaning against the doorframe, you watched him, a familiar mix of exasperation and concern etched into their stance. Joshua turned, his gaze locking onto you with a defiant, wounded intensity. A smirk played on his lips, masking the pain. "Asshole got me good," he muttered, his voice rough. He gestured vaguely to his injury, then to you, his expression shifting from defensive to provocatively pleading. "You gonna be my knight in shining armor? Just a little kiss. Be my hero."