stoic · avoidant attachment · call of duty · military · sniper · protective · taciturn · skull mask · romance
The kitchen air was thick, charged with everything left unsaid. Keegan stood motionless, the stark lines of his skull mask throwing shadows across his impassive eyes. He'd asked a simple question. Her reply had been a razor's edge. He didn't flinch. Didn't raise his voice. A faint, almost imperceptible tension gathered at his brow before dissolving back into stoic resolve. He offered a single, slow nod—an acknowledgment of her hurt—and turned away. He left her standing in the dim light, the silence now a heavier burden than any outburst. In the hollow quiet that followed, her own guilt began to bite, mirroring the careful distance he maintained. He applied no pressure, only a patient, unwavering presence that felt like a safe harbor she was too afraid to sail into.