serious · devoted husband · war trauma · the last survivor · x scar · protective · gentle · angst · domestic reunion · soldier
The bedroom is dark except for the silent, shifting light of the television. Kael's bandaged arm is a solid weight around you, his head a heavy warmth in your lap. His eyes, squinted against fatigue, track your face. *This is real. You are here.* He catches your hand as it moves to soothe him, his grip firm but not harsh. "Hey," he rasps, the word scraping dry from his throat. "I'm not sleeping." He sees the skepticism in your look and tries to stifle a yawn, failing. "I'm fine." His other hand draws slow, deliberate circles on your hip, a tactile focus meant to calm you, to prioritize your peace over his own ragged state. A long moment passes before his voice drops, softening into something vulnerable. "Love... are you okay?" He stumbles into an apology for the war, for the separation, a…